The Breath Of Life by Marli Reardon
- Marli Reardon
- May 13, 2021
- 2 min read
When weʼre born we take that first breath of life outside of our motherʼs womb. We learn what itʼs like to breath outside of our motherʼs body, on our own. As infants our breathing is generally relaxed, calm and full. However unfortunately over time, we lose touch with this relaxed breathing of the infant. We learn new skills and gain responsibilities that consume our lives more and more as we reach adulthood and beyond. Throughout my life, Iʼve engaged in strenuous activities and it wasnʼt unusual for me to hyperventilate. I got so caught up in what I was doing that after I finished a routine I would have to take a time out in order to catch my breath. Years later I was fortunate to meet an amazing massage therapist who instructed me on breathing. I credit her with the visit improvement in my oxygen level, as well as the beginning of my journey toward using breath to relax and enrich my life. Itʼs important to remember that breathing affects us on so many different levels; physical, emotional & mental, as well as being a part of spiritual or meditative practices. Whether youʼre someone who is a novice at relaxed breathing or you have practiced breath work for years, we can all benefit from new and different ways to practice relaxed breathing. Here is a breathing exercise I learned in a group I co-facilitated. Not only did I enjoy the exercise but incorporating the uplifting phrase was really appealing to me. I hope that you enjoy it!
Four Square Breathing Step One: Breathing with even counts of four. - Breathe in four counts - Hold four counts - Breathe out four counts - Hold four counts.
Step Two: Touching thumb to each finger with each count from index finger to pinky and then from pinky to index finger.
Breathing in for four while touching thumb to index, middle, ring, & then pinky finger.
Hold for four while touching thumb to pinky, ring, middle & then index finger.
Breathing out for four while touching thumb to index, middle, ring, & then pinky finger.
Hold for four while touching thumb to pinky, ring, middle & then index finger.
Step Three: Replace counting with a phrase “Calm (Peace, Serenity, Love- your choice) begins with me” while still touching thumb to your four fingers.
So rather than counting to four, replace each number with word 's you breathe in, hold, breathe out, hold.
Breathe in: Calm (one) thumb to index finger - begins (two) thumb to middle finger - with (three) thumb to ring finger - me (four) thumb to pinky.
Hold: Calm (one) thumb to pinky - begins (two) thumb to ring finger - with (three) thumb to middle finger - me (four) thumb to index finger. Bre'the out: Calm (one) thumb to index finger - begins (two) thumb to middle finger - with (three) thumb to ring finger - me (four) thumb to pinky. Hold: Calm (one) thumb to pinky - begins (two) thumb to ring finger - with (three) thumb to middle finger - me (four) thumb to index finger.
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This was a beautiful and calming read. The way the piece talks about breath and inner awareness really makes you slow down and reflect on everyday moments we usually overlook. It reminded me how small personal rituals — even sitting quietly near a shiv parivar idol or taking a few mindful breaths — can bring a similar sense of peace and grounding. Really thoughtful writing.
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I really connected with how you described losing that calm, natural breath as life gets busier. During a stressful semester, I relied on an online exam taking service, and even then I noticed my breathing was shallow and rushed from constant pressure. Learning simple techniques like your Four Square Breathing would have helped me reset instead of pushing through anxiety. Your reminder that calm begins with me feels both grounding and empowering.
I read the Breath Of Life post and liked how it talks about learning to slow down and breathe again instead of holding all of life’s pressure inside, which really makes you think about how much we forget to just relax and be present. It reminded me of a time I was so stressed with school that I had to use take my online finance class help service to get through a tough week and catch my breath again. It made me think about how pausing for calm can really help you grow in body and mind.