Drawing a big, deep, conscious breath every so often can give you a nice micro-retreat, right at your desk. Here’s a breathing visualization exercise that I learned from a voice coach several years ago.
- Visualize your respiratory system as bulb syringe.
- Imagine that your mouth and nose form the opening at the top of the syringe and your belly forms the bulb.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose, picturing the air being drawn in by the expansion of the bulb in your belly. Completely fill the bulb.
- Slowly and deliberately exhale through your mouth, constricting your throat a bit and pursing your lips to control your exhalation. Picture the bulb contracting to push out every last bit of air.
- Repeat several times, always using the expansion of the bulb to draw in air and visualizing compression of the bulb to push out the air.
This exercise should leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your in box with renewed vigor and focus.
About the Author
Larry Swanson is a massage therapist in downtown Seattle, WA. His practices focuses on the unique needs of office workers and also includes injury treatment for sports and car-accident injuries as well as massage for wellness and athletic performance.