As yoga encourages us to study ourselves, these times provide excellent opportunity to examine our role in bringing about the drama.  Do we need the whirlwind as big as it is?  Do we need the compression as tight as it is?  To what can we say “no, you know what; this really *can* wait.  the consequences are ok to deal with”?  And to what do we say “this really does need attention, right now, regardless of these other things that are going on”?

This has come up in my life, as the culmination of the details of a layoff, my puppy’s surgery, and the decision on a major teacher training.   Never mind the complete mess I’ve left behind in the kitchen for my husband, never mind the grocery shopping undone.  Nor all the tasks I have at work and in my business after work.  It makes for quite a whirlwind.

But when I ask myself, in the moment, what is really important?  What can’t wait?  The answers become rather clear.  That doesn’t mean that there isn’t still a messy whirlwind of life compression to deal with.  But you only have the crucial, vital stuff left.  And that becomes easier.  Not easy.  Never easy.  Just easier.

The cliche advice “take a deep breath” really isn’t so cliche. The sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) tends to go into a bit of overdrive during high stress times. The parasympathetic nervous system, the other side of the coin, works in balance with the sympathetic. And it’s a nice long exhale that helps kick the parasympathetic a bit more.

So, for a quick, very minor calming effect during the day when a stressful even hits, take a pause, and take 10 deep breaths. Savor the exhale all the more on each breath, letting a little stress go with each breath that goes out. Count each exhale as it takes as long as it wants to, and when you get to 10, there may be a hint less stress in the body.

Of course, it’s still up to you not to bring more in.