EASIER BREATHING

Thumb to forefinger

A famous hand position

It deepens your breath

When we're stressed, our breath tends to become shallow. This starts a vicious cycle as the imbalance in our system between oxygen (too little) and carbon dioxide (too much) puts strain on our brain and body functions, which in turns makes us feel more stressed.

For many people, touching together the thumb and index finger of each hand to form two small circles (a classic hand position for meditation), immediately deepens the breath.  It requires no conscious thought or effort, other than remembering to touch your fingertips together.

It’s simple to do and no one will notice you doing it. Try it and see what happens. Even if you can't perceive a change in your breathing, you may feel calmer and more centered.