I recently began Pilates and absolutely love it! I have always exercised but Reformer Pilates has been a new experience for me. It was during a recent class the instructor guided us through our side planks using the reformer. It went something like this: Place your box on top of your reformer…..stand next to your reformer and lean to your side…..bending down, place your left elbow on top of the box…..stretch your feet far to your right side on the floor so your body is in a straight line…..now hold for 30 seconds. During the 30 seconds, her instructions continued: Keep your left shoulder strong…..keep your hips raised, no dipping…..now raise your right arm over your head…..if you are feeling good, slightly elevate your right leg…..oh, and don’t forget to breathe…..
It was during her last instruction, don’t forget to breathe, that I had to chuckle. I was so focused on holding my plank, striving to maintain perfect form, hoping to survive another few seconds…..and it was then I realized…..I had forgotten to breathe. I was so intent on following the instructions and completing my 30 seconds that breathing had been forgotten.
As the holiday season approaches…..do we forget to breathe? Are we so focused on checking the boxes and completing the tasks that we often overlook the enjoyment along the way?
Decorate the house…..finish the shopping…..wrap the gifts…..attend holiday functions…..don’t forget to breathe…..
Or is it our everyday lives that stress us the most? Fix dinner…..complete homework…..stop by the grocery store…..clean the house…..wash soccer uniforms…..don’t forget to breathe…..
Sometimes during a stressful or busy moment, I will feel my Garmin begin to buzz on my wrist. Glancing at my watch, I see it flashing and reminding me “take a breath” or don’t forget to breathe…..
It seems so silly we would need a reminder to do what happens so naturally; a reminder for what we have been doing since the moment we entered this world. However, we seem to get so overwhelmed, so consumed, so caught up in the details and we forget to simply breathe.
I was loading my purchases from Target into my car and I noticed anew my South Carolina license plate. Along with the plate number, it includes the South Carolina state motto: “while I breathe, I hope”. Don’t forget to breathe and don’t forget to maintain hope.
Take a moment …..close your eyes…..breathe in as deeply as you can…..hold it and breathe in even deeper…..completely fill your precious lungs with breath…..continue to hold it for a few seconds……very slowly release your breath and exhale. As the breath exits your body let it take the tension and stress with it. Can you feel your body relaxing? Now repeat the exercise, but as you fill your lungs say to yourself, “I am thankful for…..” As you slowly exhale, silently pray, thanking God for all your blessings.
Don’t forget to breathe…..LIfe is a gift, precious and fleeting…..take the time to enjoy it. Of course, we will always be busy and have our “to do” lists, but breathe and soak in the beautiful moments. Always pause to look at a sunrise or sunset; appreciate the beauty in nature; slow down enough to chat with a stranger; watch a child play; truly look into the eyes of your partner; laugh with your loved ones; eat queso with your girlfriends…..make the memories!
Don’t forget to breathe…..Take time each day to commune with our Heavenly Father. Spend some quiet moments studying, praying…..and listening. Breathe in the calm and renewal these moments bring.
We have been given the gift of life…..don’t forget to breathe and take it all in!
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6
For as long as life is in me, and the breath of God is in my nostrils Job 27:3