Inhale & Exhale: Learn how to breath while wearing a mask.

When we were born, we came into this world by being slapped on the ass by a doctor, followed by a deep inhale and an exhalation of a cry out into the universe. As an infant we have the natural instinct to breath, a baby knows how to breathe deeply and fully. If you watch an infant breath you will see the chest and abdomen rise and fall in a beautiful rhythm. 

As children continue to grow and develop the breath begins to change and shift from how we are designed to naturally breath. In stressful situations we teach our self to hold the breath, we forget how to breathe deeply. We mirror our breath in the world we live in, we are taught unconditionally to breath shallow, soft, and quiet. We forget to breathe deeply and fully. Over time we lose strength in our lungs and abdomen and no longer invite the sweetness of the breath into our bodies. The breath that keep us healthy and happy.

Here we are in 2020, living in a global pandemic and our daily lives have shifted dramatically. As a world we are being asked to stay at home and when we venture out we are asked to wear a mask to prevent further spread of COVID-19. These masks can be restrictive, not only on our face but restrictive of the breath as well. Since my return to the salon earlier this month I have heard many people express how difficult it has become to breath while wearing a mask. Which makes sense, most people are not breathing deeply and fully and once you put a mask on it makes it even more difficult to breath, not to mention the existential anxiety that most of us are feeling is also contributing to our shallow breath. 

After wearing a mask every day for 8-10 hours a day I have discovered a tool that has been helping me in my breathing while wearing a mask.

To be honest I have not had any issues breathing with a mask and I couldn't understand why so many others were having issues and then it hit me. I practice pranayama every morning. 
Pranayama is one of the eight limbs of Yoga and it is a practice of breathing exercises and breath work. Every morning I wake up, shower, shave, and do my morning bathroom routine. Once I am all clean and awake I practice 5-20 minutes of pranayama, followed by my asana practice (yoga postures) and meditation.

Pranayama is a beautiful practice to hold, it assists in connecting the right and left side of the brain, circulates prana (energy/life force) throughout the body, and of course creates mindfulness around the breath and strengthens the lungs and diaphragm.

If you are having a hard time breathing while wearing a mask I highly recommend you to begin a daily pranayama practice. It will help you in strengthening the breath and over time create more ease while breathing, especially while wearing a mask. 

Check out the video below on how a few simple exercises you can do anywhere at any time.