I'm giving myself an overall B- on my eating slowly/chewing each bite 50 times project. I do well sometimes...and am definitely feeling the benefits. But when I fix a bowl of sprouted grain cereal, pour raw milk over it, add frozen wild blueberries and then think, gee, with healthy ingredients like that, it's probably OK to chew 5-10 times! - like I did last night. Well, I had to average in an 'F' for yesterday.On to another worthy project: BREATHING!!! Yes, it's not completely optional anymore! It's become completely evident that I hold my breath at the times when it is most important not to. This would generally apply to anything that requires concentration: writing, practicing... anything that falls under 'performing'... and even things that are fun, but intense. It's the epitome of working against oneself.
An awareness of the roots of the stressful state that ensues has been growing in me in the past year. Some months ago, I began gradually incorporating some deep yoga breathing into my life . For some reason, it didn't seem natural to simply, 'just do it'. I discovered that, for me, repeating phrases of the Jesus Prayer, entwining it into each breath, gave me a complete spiritual-breath experience. It still does. And helps immensely....when I remember to do it.
picture courtesy of Laura
