You have a Superpower.

We have one of the most powerful tools of transformation available to us at any time and in any place. 

Its our breath. And we to harness this power all we have to do is practice deep belly breathing.

It might seem strange to think we have to practice breathing. We breathe all the time of course. In fact the breath is one of the few body functions that is both under the control of our autonomic nervous system and our conscious control.  

However, most of us live our lives in stress mode, in our flight/fight or shut down survival mode. And this means that most of us are chest breathers. We are in stress so we breath shallowly from our chests as if we are ready for action, ready to run or fight at all times. 

Deep belly breathes switches on our parasympathetic nervous system or our Rest/Digest mode. We cant help but experience a calming effect when we are in this mode.

Numerous studies on the power of the breath has shown that deep belly breathing can improve your gut health, sleep, anger issues, depression and anxiety. 

This breathing practice works because it stimulates the Vagus Nerve- the cranial nerve that runs from the brain to the heart & the gut.  The main function of the vagus is to regulate the nervous system.  

A good breathwork practice to start with is the 4-7-8 breathing pattern: 

Breathe in through your nose for a count of 4

Hold for a count of 7. 

Then breathe out through your mouth for a count of 8.

Just concentrate of breathing from your belly not your chest and make the out breath longer than the in breath. 

So next time you are stuck in traffic, about to go into a tense meeting or sitting down to a holiday meal with your in laws- remember you have a superpower within you.