Trace Away Stress: The Simple Breathing Technique to Calm Your Mind

Sep 10, 2024

A woman standing outdoors in nature, taking a deep breath with her eyes closed, looking calm and relaxed, surrounded by greenery.

Finger breathing is an excellent breathing exercise to calm the body and the mind.

I first used this practice when teaching mindfulness in a school to help pupils cope with exam stress. The teachers told me they loved it as much as the children did.

I love breathing exercises as they are a great way to instantly calm yourself. We are using the breath to send signals to the body that all is well as it's safe to switch off the stress response.

The added benefit of this exercise is that it's multi-sensory and when we are making the skin to skin connection with our hands it's almost impossible for our mind to think of anything else, and when we add in the focus on each breath, repeating. "I'm breathing in,' 'I'm breathing out' we are completely engrossed in that present moment awareness, and all other thoughts and worries disappear.

It's also very simple, here's how to practice it:

Use your index finger to trace along the outside of the other hand (as if you were drawing the outline of a hand). Start at the wrist by the thumb. Start on an inhale and trace up the thumb on the inhale. You can mentally say, 'I'm breathing in.' Pause for a second at the top of the nail then as you trace down breathe out and say, 'I'm breathing out.' Continue this pattern along all the fingers then swap to the other hand.

Are you ready to find out how mindfulness meditation can help you to achieve more, worry less and find more happiness?

Check out our courses (on line and in person), our membership or set up a call with me to chat through your individual coaching needs.

Set up a call

Trace Away Stress: The Simple Breathing Technique to Calm Your Mind

Be first to get access to free resources & meditations & to hear of new courses