I won't ever profess to say that I have all of the answers about how one can stay calm in a world that seems to be in chaos around us. I do know that there are steps that we can take to control our reactions to the external world. They are tools that have worked for me for decades and in some cases have saved my life.

I find that in moments of high stress, my breathing becomes rapid and shallow. Have you ever experienced this too? If so, that's completely normal. Our blood pressure and pulse often elevates when we find ourselves in these difficult moments.. This is a normal reaction of the body to stress, but if this isn't a moment when we need to run away, are these reactions useful? That answer is most likely no.

There are three key areas that we can influence to lessen our reactions in stressful moments:

1. the body,
2. the breath,
3. and the mind

Some simple ways to ease stress in the moment is to:

1. Adjust the body by shrugging the shoulders and unclenching fists. Mentally tell the body to relax.
2. Take a deep breath, even if it feels like a gulp of air. Focus on deepening the breath.
3. Remind yourself to stay present in the moment and to not worry. Repeat a mantra like: "I am peace."

Just these three steps above give the body, the breath, and the mind the support that they need to release anxiety and tension--sometimes before it even escalates.

I offer more of these tools in all of the classes that I teach. Please head over to my Offerings page to find the option that works best for you.