Have you ever paid attention to your breathing?  I know we all have when we get active and realize we are out of breath.  But I want to know if you pay attention to your breathing when you are just breathing.  We are a busy society running ourselves all over the place while we multi-task.  Can you put down your phone or not check your email or text messages?  It’s hard.  We have become wired to our society.  This constant barrage of information can take a toll on us.  Many people complain about how stressed out they become during the day.  This daily stress can then lead to sleepless nights, anxious moments, increased irritability, a change in our diet or lifestyles.  Stress can have a profound effect on not only our health but also our personal relationships.  We can become mindless of things happening around us because we are caught up in everything we were supposed to do or things that are waiting for us to do.  Life can get pretty busy.  So what can we do?  Breathe.  That’s right, breathe. 

Take a moment to sit down and get comfortable.  Now, breathe and notice your breath.  Notice how your body responds to the steady inhalation and exhalation of a bodily function that happens without us thinking about it.  What happens when we start to think about it?  Changes occur!  While you are breathing, don’t try to control your breath, just let the body do what it is designed to do.  All you have to do is notice how your body changes, notice how your muscles respond, how your shoulders and belly move.  While you are breathing, other thoughts may enter into your mind.  Don’t worry about them.  Notice them and let them flow out just like your breath flows out.  Return to noticing your breath.  As you breathe, you can repeat this great poem from Thich Nhat Hanh:

“Breathing in I calm my body.  Breathing out I smile.  Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment.”

Taking a few minutes each day to practice breathing can help you become more aware, more present in the current moment and may help to bring you a bit of calmness and peacefulness to our crazy days.  Remember, your breath is always with you.  All you have to do is stop and notice it for a few minutes.  Practice that everyday for a week and see what happens.  I’ll be interested in hearing if you notice any changes!

Happy Friday, enjoy!

~John

It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make That Change!

Anyone can call themselves a “Nutritionist” regardless of their education level or experience. Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists (RDN’s) are different.  How so?

• Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists have at least a B.S. Degree in nutrition from an accredited college/university, have completed an internship and passed a board examination
• We are THE food and nutrition experts and can translate science-based nutrition into practical solutions for optimal health
• We are uniquely trained and qualified to assess and counsel individuals with any kind of medical history or lifestyle
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionists work throughout the community in hospitals, schools, public health clinics, nursing homes, fitness centers, food management, food industry, universities, research and/or private practice
• We are advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world

Interested in improving your health through enhanced nutrition?  Contact Nutrition Pair.  John & I would love to work with you!

Happy Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist Day!” Nutrition Pair, LLC wants to recognize our RDN colleagues. Today marks the 7th annual Registered Dietitian Day sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (AND). 

~ Angie

It’s Your Health. It’s Your Life. Make that change!