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Any kind of headache is an indicator of stagnant energy that needs to be released and moved. Mental agitation or an overactive nervous system means there is not much happening for the respiratory system. If you can?t quiet your mind or you feel anxious, the BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU ARE NOT BREATHING! If you are breathing fully it is impossible for your mind to be agitated.

For a general de-stressor it is important to be moving your body through some kind of exercise. This is a process of finding what works for you. Do you thrive and feel best when you have really intense physical activity? Does your body prefer something slow and more calming such as Yoga or Tai Chi? Maybe you are in the middle? One of the most significant reasons behind doing any sort of exercise is that it forces you to breathe. Breathing represents life force energy and movement of energy. Breath moves energy. Chronic headaches represent stuck energy. Our breath is directly connected to our emotions. This is true because when we feel happy and calm our breath is always more relaxed. We usually take much fuller inhales and exhales. When we are stressed or tense, the tendency is to hold our breath. When we watch a disturbing movie, or see something really horrific we gasp in disbelief and the breath gets repressed at the same time. In response to what emotion is coming up, the breath follows. For example, if a person is experiencing panic, the breath is very shallow and short, and results in a ?panting.?

If our breath is short and shallow, it signifies we are not ?fully breathing in life.? The consequence of quick shallow breathing is oxygen starvation. This leads to reduced vitality, premature ageing, poor immune system response, and a myriad of other factors. Oxygen is critical to our well-being, and any effort to increase the supply of oxygen to our body will be beneficial, with a priceless outcome. Breathing more fully can benefit everyone, especially people who have sedentary jobs and spend most of the day in offices. They may feel tired, anxious, irritable, and not very productive.

Breath is also related to posture. We often assume certain postures that do not support our body and restrict our breath and lung capacity. We slouch for example, and being hunched over limits the amount of oxygen we are able to inhale. We have adapted to breathing in dysfunctional ways without even the awareness that it is something vital to our health and well being. A major reason for this is our fast paced life style; we are always in a hurry. Working with innovative technology causes us to be physically less active and therefore less connected to what?s going on in our body.

To truly experience the fullness and greatness, we need to take deep satisfying breaths. We all want to experience the richness life has to offer. It can easily start with noticing our breath. Observe your own breath pattern. Do you find yourself holding your breath often? Does your chest or stomach feel tight when that happens? Are your inhalations shallow or short?

How do you correct these things? BREATHE MORE!! Put your focus on your breath. Engage in activities that get your body moving. Walking, running, swimming, Yoga, Tai Chi, aerobics, sports: these are all things that support your body. Systematic breathing on a daily basis can transform lives. It is what the Yogis call ?Pranayama.? Yogis realized the vital importance of an adequate oxygen supply thousands of years ago.

Here is a technique to practice:

1.) sitting straight up with both feet on the floor

2.) imagine you are going to blow out a candle that is 6 ft. in front of you

3.) keeping that image in mind, practice fast sharp exhales, you should feel your abdomen expand and contract.

4.) work up to doing 3 sets of 50 repetitions

*You may feel light headed at first. This happens because your organism is expanding the amount to oxygen being taken in. Do what you need to take care of yourself. Start slow.