How are you breathing?

Yogic philosophy teaches that the manner in which we breathe reflects our inner well being. A person who takes long, complete, deep breaths is a person who is content, relaxed, and self assured. A person who takes shallow, tight, constricted breaths reflects a body that is tense, discontent, and fatigued.

In order for one to fully expand the chest when breathing, the muscles must be soft and flexible in order to allow the ribs to expand. I can't count the times that I have been working at the computer to realize I have been there for hours, my shoulders are rounded forward, my chest is tight, and I am taking short, shallow breaths. In order to remedy this, a nice long break and simple stretches are just the thing. Inhale as you clasp the hands tightly behind the back, exhale roll the shoulders down your back and tilt your chin toward the ceiling to elongate the neck. Take several deep breaths here. If it feels nice, slowly tip forward from the hip crease taking the arms up toward the ceiling. AAAAHHHHH!!!!