Bonjour and Happy New Year
For this first Monday mindfulness edition I’ll introduce the physiological sigh.
Double inhale long exhale.
To this day the fastest way known to shift the nervous system from sympathetic drive to parasympathetic drive, from anxiety to calm but also to energy and focus. This is the most accessible and powerful tool to regulate our nervous system almost instantaneously.
The term was coined by scientists in the 30s to describe nature's way to offload carbon dioxide faster. It is a breathing pattern found in most mammals during sleep, and in humans when catching their breath while crying.
Stress causes CO2 to build up in the body. By inhaling twice we allow the second inhale to maximally expand the alveoli of the lungs, which in turn accelerates the removal of CO2. Adults have an average of 480 million alveoli. They are tiny air sacs in the lungs that take up the oxygen and remove carbon dioxide.
Practice :
Inhale as usual (ideally through the nose)
Add a second inhale on top to fully fill the lungs
Follow by a long slow exhale through the mouth
Repeat 3 – 4 times and allow a minute to feel the impact
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