Sea breathing

If you are able to get to the beach make the effort, it is a brilliant place to get a dose of vitamin sea!

The sea can be hypnotic, calm the mind in many ways and create a quiet space so that your thoughts can slowly dissolve. It is a wonderful place to ignite the senses, drink in the vision, what do you see?

Place your attention on a wave or the continuous movement of the tide coming in and then going out. What can you taste in the air, is there salt and sea spray mixed with the clean air? Are there birds in the vicinity or the summer sound of dogs barking and larking around the edge of the sea. Feel the sand underfoot or beside you, what stories are hidden there?

There is a special calmness being beside the sea.

Breathing technique (sitting)

1. Find a spot where you can comfortably sit for 10 minutes with a view of the waves coming in and out, it can be shaded or not, it is up to you.

2. Tune in to the wave pattern, simply observe the momentum, imagine all of your cares and worries being taken out to sea on the outward movement.

3. Place your hand on your belly button, softly squeeze the muscles on your face for a few seconds, your chest and back, your arms and hands and now your legs and feet. Do a body scan, are you holding tension anywhere? Squeeze and release.

4. The key is to get the air down into your belly as you breathe in through your nose, count to three as the air fills your belly cavity. Time the breathe in, with the wave coming up to the shoreline. Hold for a few seconds.

5. Breathe all air in your body out through your mouth to a count of five as the wave retracts back out to sea. Let all of your troubles and cares go out to sea with the outward breath. Hold for a few seconds and then recommence the routine.

6. Create a slow rhythm, three in through your nose hold and then five out through your mouth and then hold and then start again. This is a great tool to have if you are feeling anxious or stressed during the day. Simply close your eyes and imagine the sea, activate the breathing routine and the stillness will return.

Breathing technique (walking)

1. This routine differs in that you are walking along the beach, barefoot.

2. Ignite your senses and feel the calming effect of the sea and the sun. Do a body scan and seek out any tension in your body and complete the squeeze routine as above.

3. The breathing routine is different than the above. As the wave comes into the shore snort in three breathes through your nose, hold for a few seconds and then as the sea recedes breathe out to the count of five through your mouth, blow out all of your worries and cares and let them go out to sea. Hold for a few seconds and then recommence the routine.

4. For those more adventurous, you can apply the routine to taking a step, three steps in, hold five steps out. Either way, the mind will thank you for breaking the chain of thoughts and creating some stillness. Add vitamin sea into your life!