You may find that you are restless today. Nervous energy and tension may stream through your body, affecting your thoughts and how you feel physically. If you have anxious thoughts, tense muscles, or difficulty handling everyday situations, breathing exercises may hold the key to relief. Try laying down, emptying your mind, and breathing in and out slowly. On each inhalation, think the words, "I am." On each exhalation, think, "Relaxed." Focusing on the changes in your body that occur with each breath can help you transform your mental and physical states. Breathing more deeply will relax and reduce the nervous energy you carry today.

The way you breathe can have a profound effect on your state of mind. Since breathing is a body function you can regulate mindfully, you can diminish stress, anxiety, fear, and nervous energy. When the body is excited in a positive or negative way, the breath comes faster, which in turn causes further excitation. By slowing and controlling the breath, you send a signal to the body that all is well and that there is peace all around you. Breathing deeply floods your system with oxygen and calms you. Simply being aware of your breathing can help you become aware of tension and apprehension before other physical signs make themselves known. Breathing mindfully today will help you dispel the nervous energy that causes your restlessness.