"When you change the way you breathe, you change the way you feel."

I say it all the time. And it really works. Just take it from a couple of my students. The breath practice you do on your mat will help you off your mat when your in a stressful situation or a place that increases your anxiety like the dentist office. Take a few breaths and you will feel better.

My mom has experienced this for her self. She says, “Just last week I had to have a procedure done and I was lying on the doctor's table I could feel the anxiety raising because I didn't know exactly what was going to happen. And I just started tuning into gratitude and breathing and it was just amazing. My anxiety calmed right down and the procedure was very successful!”

Lynda has had a similar experience. She says, “A couple weeks ago when lots of things were going wrong, it seemed to me, I just decided to go to yoga class and concentrate on my breath and it just happened naturally and just calmed me right down.”

Taking time to quiet the mind and concentrate on your breath is powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety. When you take your yoga practice that you do on your mat, off your mat, it truly can change your life. It will help you to become less stressed and less anxious.

The next time you're feeling a little uncomfortable, the next time that you're in the doctor's office, the next time you're at the dental chair and you just feel your anxiety rising…

Stop. Take a breath. Listen. Calm down.

I really think you'll notice you feel a lot better.