“Breathe. It’s your favorite thing in the world to do!” my husband tells his yoga students, and he gets a laugh every time. But there’s important in what he’s saying. Breathing comes naturally to us, as does moving. Each of us does both things every day, but do we bother to do them well?

Sometimes the stresses of modern life act like a constriction to our breathing and our movement. I, for one, sit hours a day in front of a computer, with only my hands and wrists moving, breathing just enough to keep my body alive. I have to remember to breathe, and I keep trying to remember to get up and stretch myself, but I don’t do it nearly enough. Our ancestors didn’t have to consciously choose to be active or breathe deeply; their lifestyles required and supported these practices.

Nowadays, although our lifestyles often work against us, we still have options and methods for consciously choosing healthy breath and movement. In fact, the variety of techniques and therapies is amazing! Don’t let the options -- Feldenkrais, yoga, pilates, chi kung, tai chi, breathwork, dance -- stress you out. The focus of each is to help you open, expand, relax, energize, and heal. This issue of New Life Journal will help you explore your options, so you can find the best one for you. Look for the “Try This!” boxes throughout for exercises you can try out on your own. Enjoy, and remember to breathe. It’s your favorite thing in the world to do!

Erin Everett
New Life Journal Editor

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