B R E AT H E
THIS MONTH’S EXPERT M A R GA R E T T OW N S E N D is a certified breathwork and Hakomi practitioner in the Portland, Oregon, area. She has taught for 25 years, blending her training in shiatsu, reiki, qigong, yoga, and other disciplines. Find her at thelivingbreath.com.
Photograph by Helen Norman
AUGUST 2015
58
REALSIMPLE.COM
COURTESY OF MINT IMAGES
Here’s a three-minute exercise to help you start the day feeling centered and energized. Try it first thing in the morning, while you’re still in your pajamas: Stand with your feet apart, a bit wider than hip-width, and imagine little springs in all your joints: ankles, knees, hips, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders—all the way up to your jaw. Bounce a bit into these “springs,” then begin to shake your whole body in a comfortable but vigorous rhythm, allowing your shoulders to move up and down, your head to bob, your hands to flap, and your breath to be free. Keep this going for a whole minute. When you stop, just be still for a moment and feel the natural movement of your breath; notice how alive your body feels. Now sit down on a comfortable surface. With your jaw relaxed and your chest and belly soft, take an inhale, feeling the breath flow in, bathing your body and mind in refreshing, cleansing energy, then falling freely into an exhale. Allow the next inhale to come like a gentle wave rising, so there’s a nice, soft, circular feel to the breath—no break between inhale and exhale. Continue this connected flow for about two minutes. Then sit for a moment, breathe naturally, and enjoy being awake and feeling whole.
