Tidal Breathing
Breathe in and out with the ocean.
Welcome, students!
Tell me how you feel, using a water word, like ocean, river, lake, or pond. You can say things like, “I’m a raging river,” or “I’m a still lake,” or “I’m a wavy ocean.”
When we’re overwhelmed, imagining nature can help us calm down. We’re going to do a little visualization exercise.
Close your eyes… and picture the ocean lapping against the beach as you take a deep breath in. Maybe the waves have crests of foam… or maybe there are a few turtles swimming to shore.
As you watch the waves float back out to sea, breathe out slowly.
As the waves crash on the beach, breathe in, 2, 3, 4.
Breathe out, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Again, breathe in, 2, 3, 4.
Breathe out, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Keep moving your breath in line with the waves as you feel your body relax.
Nice work! Now it's time to reflect.
On a scale of one to five, with five being the most relaxed and one the least, how relaxed do you feel after that exercise? Show me by raising your fingers.