I've been painting seashells to include in the steam and sigh breath kits in preparation for the upcoming Mind, Body, and Spirit Expo on Saturday. These seashells are a magical link to my grandma, Mookie, when we used to collect them together on our adventures to Cape Cod and Savannah. 

 

It feels fitting to currently be adorning them since last week marked the anniversary of Mookie's passing. A beautiful way to remember how her breaths held so much grace and wisdom. Similar to the oceans where we collected the shells near, she was such a teacher for me in holding the multitude of the ands and celebrating the moons and seasons's rhythms. 

 

As I write this, I bring attention to my exhales, letting them wash up the emotions of this moment. Those distant and near, calming and upsetting - Mookie's early departure, the ongoing onslaught to the liberation for all, the crunch of snow under my feet and Wabster's paws, the hopelessness at COP28, and the smiles of the kiddoes playing on the sidewalk in the snow. All of it percolates on my mind's beach as my exhales come to an end. 

 

I invite you to think about what washes up at the bottom of your exhale as we inch closer to the Winter Solstice and the season of the hold after the exhale. What emotions, memories, and judgments swirl in your mind?

 

Try this out: Take four intentional breaths and bring attention to the four exhale endings, right before the holds and beginnings of the inhales. Name out loud a body sensation or emotion that arises in each exhale ending. What do you notice? 

 

We will continue to unearth the exhales via two online experiences in December. One is this evening on Instagram at 5:30pm EST with Carrie of Friedman Ayurveda. Carrie will give a demo about how to make some delicious ginger tea (ingredients 👆🏽), which I am craving as this cold dances with my nervous system, and I will share some cues to breathe. We met in Denmark over ten years ago and reconnected in Denver before we both moved east so there will be lots of hygge vibes. The photo on the right is of Carrie and me from 2011 - look at us youngsters. 

 

The other online experience is Slo Breathworks' monthly virtual breath break for anyone who wants to breathe for fifteen minutes on December 18th at 12:30 pm EST. The breath of the month is the two-part breath. Playing with two inhales and one long exhale will be a magnificent expansion in the darkest week of the year. Register here. 

The final hurrah of the season of the exhale will be a breath walk at Pitney Meadows Community Farm on December 17th from 1-2 pm in honor of the Winter Solstice. We will explore different breathing techniques that extenuate the exhale's ending and the hold after the exhale while absorbing how the gardens rest during winter’s bite, after the abundance of fall, and in anticipation of the sprouting of spring. 

 

Hope that wherever you call home, you get to celebrate the transition into the season of the exhale hold in your unique way. 

 

Sending you restful exhales in these dark weeks leading up to the Solstice, 

 

Sarah 

Slo Breathworks acknowledges the unceded territory of the Haudenosaunee and Mohican from where this newsletter was written. Take a breathe and identify where you are located.