Listen to Episode 14 of The Diabetic Toolbox Connecting to the Breath
Hello, my friends, and welcome to our first yoga audio class. I hope you enjoy it. Today’s class will focus on what I believe is one of the most essential foundations of your yoga practice. The breath! If you can tap into the breath and breathe intentionally, you can reduce stress and increase your joy throughout the day.
We tend to look to external strategies to reduce our overwhelm and manage stress. But unfortunately, strategies like overeating, bingeing on our favorite Netflix series or surfing social media do little to improve our health outcomes or equip us to fight prediabetes or any chronic illness.
I want to invite you to tap into an internal source that is readily available to accompany you into battle as you manage the physical and emotional symptoms of your illness. That source is your breath.
Let’s get started! Before we begin our breath work, let’s start with a little movement to warm up the body and increase our focus. Sitting in your comfortable seat, crossed-legged or legs extended into staff pose-feet flexed and active.
Your breathing is regular, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the nose. We are becoming, as my yoga teacher says, breath aware. Relax your shoulders down and feel your bottom grounding into the earth.
Remind yourself that you are supported in this space.
Your eyes are closed if that feels good or lower your gaze.
Now take a big inhale through your nose and let your breath fill your chest and belly.
Exhale completely-
Let’s do that twice more
Inhale full breath-exhale completely} 2x’s
Now would be an excellent time to set your intention for your practice-choose a word or phrase that brings you comfort. My word this week is ease. So, let’s seal our intention with the breath, inhale 1,2,3, and hold and exhale 1,2,3.
Linking breath to movement, inhale both arms overhead and exhale down 3x’s
Inhale both arms overhead twist to the right-exhale to the center
Inhale both arms overhead, twist left, exhale to center
Place your hand on either side of your stability.
Make sure your shoulders do not creep up to your ears-relax them down
Inhale knees to chest
Exhale extend 3x’s
Give your legs a good shake and return to your comfortable seat
Take a moment to notice how your body feels. Bring both hands together at your heart in a prayer position-Now to the breath- this is a very simple breath sequence 4-4; as we do it, remember your intention.
We will do six rounds-I will try to keep track as I do this with you. Inhale 1 ,2,3,4, and exhale 1,2,3,4
Great work, everyone!
My friends-it has been my honor to share this practice with you. I’m so happy that you are part of this community.
With Peace and Love,
Renee
The Diabetic Toolbox 