Taking a breather

One might think that something as innate as breathing would be something we all naturally do well, yet it in my own experience and from observing others, as much as of course we breathe, many of us, most of the time, do not breathe optimally.  One could be forgiven for thinking I’m stating the obvious here, but breathing is really important! Not just in as much that if we stop breathing, we cease to exist. The way we breathe has a much more profound effect than it’s seemingly functional fulfilment as a life-preserving exchange of air unconsciously and repeatedly flowing in and out.

It is the way we breathe, rather than the fact that we do breathe, that really matters. One way to test what breathing style you generally favour is by placing one hand on your chest and one on your abdomen. Take two normal breaths in and out and observe which hand moves more.  In most cases, unless one has done yoga, or some other practice that focuses one’s attention on one’s breath, most people find that it is the hand on the chest that moves more, where the shoulders, rather than the diaphragm move.  Moreover when one is stressed, one’s breathing pattern is characterised by short, shallow and rapid chest breathing, 

To counter this, research has shown that timetabling periods of deeper abdominal breathing throughout the day can actually revolutionise the body’s functioning.  When one breathes more deeply and slowly, the parasympathetic nervous system is stimulated. This is the system, which tends to be the more dormant of the two nervous systems, the other being the sympathetic nervous system. A great way to remember which nervous system is responsible for what nervous response it to associate the ‘p’ from parasympathetic with peace and the sympathetic with stress. 

Much has been written about the quasi-meditative effect of deep breathing, with one of the more renowned researchers, Harvard physician Herbert Benson, coining the term the ‘relaxation response’ way back in the heady and hippy days of 1975.  He found that intentional deep abdominal breathing ushers the body into a physical state of deep rest, altering the physical and emotional responses to stress, countering the body’s fight or flight response. The heartening news is that according to Benson, it only takes around 20 deep breaths per day, equating to around 15 minutes, to induce this state. Doing this, potentially damaging stress signals are disabled, and one’s immune system is empowered to work at its optimal best.

Breathing from the abdomen can initially feel counter-intuitive, as when one breathes in, the abdomen goes out, and when one breathes out, the abdomen goes in.  It actually takes some practice, not only from a physical perspective, but from a mental one, with a conscious commitment to shift awareness to one’s breath at certain times of the day.  Encouragingly, this does not have to happen in the idyllic setting of zero stress or total peace or quiet; I have even found that mindful or intentional breathing can be incorporated whilst walking. As I pace, I breathe in for a count of 5, hold for a count of 5 and exhale for a count of 5, repeating the process until my body actually start to feel its benefits. I often observe that as I begin this practice, my walking pace is fast and furious, but after a few breaths I begin to regain control, gradually reigning in slower, calmer steps which in turn translates to a calmer, less racing mind.  It is incredibly invigorating, and such an easy concept to ritualise into one’s daily routine.  Of course the idea of doing this breathing whilst lying down with one’s eyes closed is a real treat, reaping rewards akin to a ‘power’ or ‘nana’ nap.

Why we are not taught how to breathe is indeed a mystery to me. So much time and energy is devoted to other, more complex and costly things, aimed at improving wellbeing; yet the one thing that it is freely and readily available to us all the time, is our breath. Maybe that is part of the problem: it’s just too easy; it’s right under our noses (and within!).  We always look for more complex answers to the things that just seem too good to be true. In Hebrew, the word ‘to breathe’ comes from the same root as the word for soul, and I can see why. When we connect to our breath, we connect to our true self, to our inner spirit, to our soul.

So why don’t you ‘take a breather’ now.  You’ll definitely feel better for it.

In love and laughter,

Ros

Slowing down at speed humps

The other day whilst driving home I was consumed by an overwhelming resistance to slow down at a speed hump, only a couple of streets away from my home. It had been an arduous, lengthy day, traversing from one side of Melbourne to the other and I just wanted for the journey to be over, to be back at home.  But there it was looming ahead, the first of two mounds rudely protruding from the otherwise flat road surface. For a split moment I wished I had Barbara Eden’s magical ability as the genie to blink them away. I did not feel like slowing down at this given moment, and I resented being forced to right here, right now. 

Belatedly and half-heartedly I applied the brakes, resulting in both the car and myself abruptly jolting up and down. Immediately afterwards I was dumbfounded at how I had reacted, prompting me to reflect on why I had so strongly resisted the need to slow down at something strategically placed to save lives. I pondered how many other times in my life I had rebelled against the need to slow down, and at what potential cost this may have had not only to my own, but to others’ health and wellbeing. 

Rather than a hindrance, these ‘speed humps of life’ serve a purpose, a greater good; to slow us down, to regain balance and mental clarity.  It is important to reframe in our hearts and mind things that are often hastily labelled as obstacles hindering our forward progress, instead as opportunities to be grateful for, keeping us safely on the path in which we are destined to travel.  There are times in our lives that are not meant to be rushed, where the focus should be more about the journey than the destination.  It is often at these times that life’s most special moments unfold, with something as little as your favourite song coming on the radio putting you in a buoyant mood for the rest of the day. Perhaps, as a result of being forced to slow down, whether it be speed humps, flat batteries, traffic jams, or red lights, you may even unexpectedly stumble upon an old friend that you have not seen in ages, presenting you with a rare and precious opportunity to catch up. It may in fact transpire that what happens in these unscheduled moments will be the very things that constitute your life’s most memorable moments, rather than the ones you had so carefully planned for.

What a blessed opportunity to just be able to slow down, to be caught before one spirals out of control into the whirlwind that is life.  Resisting applying your internal brakes and ignoring those internal and external prompts to slow down results in an accumulation of stress and pressure, and we all know how detrimental that can be on one’s health.  As Carl Jung aptly said, “what you resist persists”.

I now view speed humps with greater reverence and am deeply grateful for their presence. On a daily basis I schedule restorative speed humps into my routine in the form of deep intentional breathing exercises to slow me down, allowing me to continue safely on my journey.  What will you do?

In love and laughter,
Ros 

Welcome to the Laughlife blog

I would like to welcome you to the Laughlife blog.  In this space I aim to inspire, engage, entertain and inform you through the lens of the world we live in and that resides within us.

Entries will incorporate inspiring insights and strategies designed to empower, providing you with some reflection and commentary that is ultimately aimed to raise your own wellbeing and happiness.

A brief history; Laughlife was born five or so years ago as a company delivering laughter yoga programs for a diverse range of clients.  Today it has expanded and provides a range of innovative wellbeing programs, including laughter yoga, happiness and wellbeing for corporate, community and health services. In addition to program delivery, Laughlife also conducts research about the effects of laughter on the physical, emotional and social body.  As a result of the success of one such research program in 3 aged care residential facilities in Melbourne, a training program for all lifestyle staff in the Aged Care Services Australia Group (P/L) has begun, to provide staff with the tools to provide regular laughter 'exercises' for residents.

Laughlife's vision is “To bring more laughter into people's lives so they are better equipped for their life journey, to infuse people with happiness through the invocation of a smile, that joyously spreads from one person to the next.”

Blogs will be written by Ros Ben-Moshe who is a passionate smiler, jotter down of ideas, and life observations and has the belief that happiness can be enhanced by increasing the number of micro-moments of connection or positivity that you infuse into your life, which is a concept advocated by Social Psychologist Barbara Fredrikson.  The more connected you are to other people, the happier not only will you be, but all who come into contact with you.  A great way to do this is through the power of a smile. Try it now by putting a smile on your face; a real smile where your eyes smile too.  It feels great doesn't it, now go out and share it.

In love and laughter

Ros :)