Lisa Brookes Kift, MFTMuch is known about the power of the breath for stress management. Slow, deep breathing triggers the relaxation response that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress. It decreases your heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension. Many throughout the world enjoy the benefits of the breath via mindfulness and other related practices. Children are learning about it too.
The film, “Just Breathe” was inspired by Julie Bayer Salzman observing her then five year old son talking to his friend about how emotions affect different regions of the brain (they were learning about this in their kindergarten class) and how to calm down by taking deep breaths.
Don’t want therapy but looking for real human expert feedback? Ask Lisa via email.
“Just Breathe” was unscripted and filmed one afternoon with some of the children and families from his class.
Teaching kids how to use the power of their breath early on for emotional regulation is a gift for them as they become adults when life inherently can become more challenging. For those who have family of origin issues or other earlier trauma, where they have a nervous system primed for protection (using one of the four automatic survival responses, flight, flight, freeze or fawn), it can be even more impactful in an effort to try to re-train your nervous system.
Using the breath with this mindfulness practice is an always accessible practice that you can do in any moment. The next time you notice yourself being overwhelmed by uncomfortable feelings like anger, stress or sadness, try it.
Close your eyes, focus inward and just breathe…
Linda Graham, MFT
