Hello, everyone!
I hope you are all doing well and breathing well. I didn’t have my usual podcast episode last Monday evening. To make it up to you, I shared the YouTube link to my interview in Safe Space — a vodcast by Carmina Mones. We discussed how breathing can help us manage stress.
As a wellness coach, I have dedicated myself to living a life of wellness and encouraging others to do the same. Even so, I am still human. I still have my ups and downs. I have my fair share of panic attacks and other mental health bouts.
I had episodes when I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Even though I knew that I was, my mind was telling me that I was not — and my body would start to panic. It seemed like I was drowning! There were instances when I had to stick my head out of the window to assure myself that I wouldn't run out of oxygen.
So how did I get over the feeling of drowning? It started with the right frame of mind coupled with breathwork.
Prayanama or breathwork is vital. We need to go back to basics by breathing properly — inhaling through the nose and expanding the belly, not our shoulders or chests.
Have you noticed that our bodies allow us to take deep breaths when we’re stressed? In Filipino, it's called 'buntong hininga'. It is our bodies’ signal to give ourselves a break. It's reminding us to pause and breathe.
Belly breaths or fully yogic breathing is a powerful tool to combat stress. Try slowing down your breathing pattern and be mindful of the oxygen going in and out of your nostrils. It helps bring us to the present moment where we find peace and joy. A place with no regrets about the past and worries about the future.
Remember to practice your breathwork every day and take pauses. Stress will never go away— especially at work. Create a powerful morning ritual and integrate breathwork into it. It jump-starts our day for us to become purposeful and intentional. It can help us face our daily challenges with ease and flow.
To wrap it up, I always remind everyone to be BFFs with our bodies. Ask what it can do, test it out, and see what works for you. Remember to focus on your breath every now and then — and create a mindfulness space for self-love wherever you are.
If you are looking for something special this holiday season, feel free to check out the gifts of wellness I have for everyone. Visit joanaalberto.com.
Love and Light!
