Nancy

Sorry, Action, it will not come back on IE. You will have to add Chrome. I have both on my work computer.

Thought I heard my name....article below...found it here Health And Yoga News Letters Learn breathing… the yoga way With the ever-increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases like cardio-vascular and nervous system disorders, the time has come for us to address this ourselves, fair and square WITHOUT external dependence. Did you know that reprogramming your natural breathing technique would not only help in preventing these problems but also help in the “reversal” of several such harmful conditions? Yes, it’s not only possible but proven too. In fact leading cardiac experts are advocating the benefits of “correct” breathing to their patients. Surprising as it is, almost none of us use the full capacity of our respiratory organs. This is aggravated by our sedentary lifestyles and leads to several complications popularly called - lifestyle disorders. The first question that comes to mind is – “How can I alter my natural breathing process?” Well, astonishing as it may seem, it’s true. By training our body to breathe in a particular fashion, we re-program our involuntary system to adopt this new way of breathing. This breathing technique is called the “Full Yogic breath” or simply Yoga breathing. Without wasting time, I’ll plunge right away into the technique followed by its overwhelming benefits. First, lie down on your back, relaxed, with hands and legs outstretched and eyes looking up at the roof. Gently close your eyes and relax. Step 1: Abdominal breathing Observe your natural breath. You will notice that as you inhale the abdomen rises and then falls with exhalation. Watch this for a few moments to check this flow. Now begin to deepen, lengthen and extend that movement. That is, while inhaling, let the abdomen rise to its limit and at exhalation let it fall completely. Keep the chest still during this entire process – only move the abdomen. Continue this for 20 breaths and then rest. Step 2: Thoracic (chest) breathing Again observe your normal breath, this time focusing your attention on the chest. You will notice the chest moving slightly up at inhalation and down with exhalation. Again observe this pattern for a few moments. Now again, begin to deepen, lengthen and extend that movement. This time, on inhalation expand and lift the rib cage, filling the lungs completely. Then on exhalation, let the lungs collapse fully, sinking to the limits. In this step, keep the abdomen still, moving only the chest. Do this for 20 breath cycles and then stop Step 3: Full Yogic breathing This combines the above 2 steps in the following way: First inhale by filling the abdomen and then CONTINUE inhaling as you expand and fill the chest. Then exhale first from the chest as it empties and falls and then CONTINUE exhaling from the abdomen as it draws inwards completely. This is one round of the full yogic breath. Repeat this for 20 rounds. Remember the pattern… Inhaling - abdomen then chest; Exhaling – chest then abdomen. GOLDEN RULE: All of the above steps should be done WITHOUT strain. The natural tendency is to heave with effort. The right way is to make it smooth and effortless. Go slow and easy. Initially you will experience unevenness or bumps in this breathing process – as if there are 4 separate parts to the full yogic breath. This is natural considering the years we have spent breathing improperly. Instead, try to picture this breath as a continuous wave like pattern – as if the breath moves up from the navel to the throat with every inhalation and then, down from the throat to the navel with each exhalation. It may take a few weeks of practice to perfect a “SMOOTH flowing pattern with MINIMUM effort and with MAXIMUM capacity.” This is the desired effect!! Over time, the yoga way of breathing will come naturally to you. And now for the all-important benefits… The full yogic breath is the basic building block of the powerful yoga breathing techniques, also called ‘Pranayama’ in Sanskrit, which are known for their multifarious benefits. But the tangible benefits of the full yogic breath are that it: Releases acute and chronic muscular tensions around the heart and digestive organs. Helps sufferers of respiratory illnesses such as asthma and emphysema to overcome the fear of shortness of breath. It actually increases lung capacity. Encourages proper nervous stimulus to the cardio-vascular system Dramatically reduces emotional and nervous anxiety Improves detoxification through increased exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen Amplifies the auto immune system by increased distribution of energy to the endocrine system Calms the mind and integrates the mental / physical balance. And the real icing is that it contributes to both vitality and relaxation through this single practice. With such powerful all-round benefits, do you really need to be “motivated” to get going? Go ahead, and take charge of your life like never before.

Waiting for you!!!

So very happy for you, Julie! Eight months is fabulous, and I know you are enjoying that grand baby...(((Julie)))

No smoking for me, today!

Happy New Year, Beacon and Beacon's Mom! Love you lots!!

definitely! See below for a funny take on quitting...found it here... THE UNTOLD STORY 20 minutes after quitting. You begin looking for loopholes in your quit commitment, thinking about postponing the whole arrangement until after the next millenium begins. After 8 hours. You have already contemplated at least three murders and several other brutal acts of violence. After 24 Hours. Your city or town declares a mysterious and unforeseen water shortage, while municipal sewers are suddenly overwhelmed. After one week. You have consumed enough calories to sustain a Bengali village of 2000 for four years. Food shortages become critical within your region; pets and local wild animals become nervous. After two weeks. Quitzits establish early outposts on your face. Risk of Browser's Butt Syndrome (BBS) rises to equal that for 13_year_old boys with new computers and internet access. Smileys appear in your writing and begin to replicate :) Within one month. You have already begun to pester smokers and complain about the smell of their obnoxious cigarettes; IQ returns to low double_digits; Quitzits begin to function autonomously. Exclamation point shortages prevail across the land. After six weeks You may have experienced your first bowel movement since your quit began; if not, be patient, it will happen within a few more weeks. After two months. You begin to forget the pain and misery of the first week without cigarettes, and are wondering if you could, perhaps, remind yourself of what you've been missing; Quitzits establish territorial treaties with each other. After five months. Intelligence returns to at least 60% of its pre_quit level; concentration remains a problem, at only 50%; carpal tunnel syndrome incidence exceeds all known levels for any keyboard_intensive occupation; you have typed more words than are contained within all the works of William Shakespeare, but with more flair and "sparkle". After six months. You wonder why you ever waited this long to quit. It's way, way, worth it.

Wait up, Bakon!!!

face breaking out...quit zits!

Sandy, two months is HUGE!!! So very happy for you, and so happy you are here!

So very sorry ((((Doreen))))...it is so hard!

Days to go!!!

Three weeks is a huge accomplishment! Be sure to give yourself a nice treat...you are doing great. The good news is, you never have to go through those three weeks again. So happy for you, Natalie!

Welcome back, Jay! So sorry you are starting over, but you can do this! Not One Puff Ever!

Oh, Rez, so very happy for you! Eleven months is fabulous, and I can see you from the lido! You are a wonderful member of this board, and I am proud to think of you as a friend. One month to go!!

Welcome, Kendranz! So glad you found us! Just hang tight to Not One Puff Ever, and you will be fine. Remember, a real physical craving only lasts 3-5 minutes and you can stand anything for that long. Be sure to have frequent snacks or juice as quitting plays havoc with blood sugar. Congratulations on 7 days!

Hi, Laura! I will join you....NOPE for me!

Awww, Bakon, everyone knows that I am crazy about you and your sense of humor. You've had a rough year, but have been here for us and kept us laughing. Congratulations on two years from Egg number One!

:wub:

Hey, Iam, two weeks is fabulous!! So happy for you!!

-10

Okay if I am the wing nut?

Keep up the great work, Laura!!

One week is fabulous!!! You are doing great!!