Peace In The Pause

Welcome & thank you for taking time to pause with me today for this week’s episode of Peace in the Pause podcast. This week’s episode will be part educational and part experiential to explore today’s topic: Benefits to Better Breathing. The average person breathes in and out up to 23,040 times per day, but most of us do it inefficiently, taking short, shallow chest breaths while subconsciously contracting our abdomen. Although we are born belly-breathers, over time, as stress creeps in, and a natural response to stress—tightening up—restricts our breathing. An example we are probably all familiar with… you are sitting in an intersection and see someone run a red light, nearly hitting another car. A common response is to take a sharp breath in *gasp* and hold it. Over time, as we continue to react to stressful situations, we develop bad breathing patterns. The good news is we can change those breathing patterns and enjoy the benefits of better breathing. Enter the yogic practice of pranayama. Pranayama is