“Take a deep breath.”
“Just stay moving.”
“Two more breaths, then get back to work.”
How often have you been in the middle of a workout and your trainer or workout partner says one of the above statements to you?
We often overlook how important our breathing is, not only during the course of a workout, but every minute of our lives.
A solid training, nutrition, and recovery regimen are the major building blocks for success in your health and fitness. However, we breathe and think far more often than we train, eat, and sleep, so it is vital to create some awareness around our breathing and thinking patterns. This can be done through a simple process that a friend/fellow coach calls The Rule of 3’s.
The Rule of 3’s helps us identify which aspects of our health have the biggest impact. By keeping this simple rule in mind, we learn how to prioritize our time and attention, and get the most out of our effort. The Rule of 3’s says we can spend…
- 3 Decades without Movement (It’s not recommended, but we see this all the time)
- 3 Weeks without Food
- 3 Days without Water or Sleep
- 3 Minutes without Breath
- 3 Seconds without Thought
The key takeaway is the less time we can spend without it, the more important it is to our overall health. If time or resources are limited, start from the bottom and work your way up. Look for practices that make you come alive when you do them.
Spend a few minutes each day in silence observing which thoughts come to mind, then let them go. Focus on nasal breathing in and out of your belly. Drink plenty of fresh water and make good quality sleep a priority. Eat healthy and delicious whole foods. And have a fun movement or exercise practice that energizes you daily. Get curious about what practices work for you, and have fun!
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of a regular breathing practice, or want some help creating a system of daily habits that will keep you energized, please reach out to us!