When I feel overwhelmed, I put away my phone, shut my laptop and practice Yoga Pranayama. 

Pranayama is the third of the eight essential aspects of classical yoga teaching.

Often defined as “controlling the breath,” I prefer to think of it as organizing the physical act of my breathing so I can re-organize my thinking. 

It is an often overlooked yogic practice because it is stilll, introspective and requires a surprising amount of focus.

When I feel overwhelmed, I choose “Equal Duration Breathing” as my Pranayama. 

This is a technique that restores mental equilibrium and promotes attention.

In Equal Duration Breathing, you’ll consciously equalize the length of the inhale and the length of the exhale. I tend to choose a 6 count inhale and a 6 count exhale, but if you’re trying it for the first time, choose the count of 4. 

Try two different Equal Duration Breathing Practices (FREE!) on my website and let me know how you feel afterward.