Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…
This week on the mini-podcast we are welcoming a new guest, Stephanie Mathless, where she discusses the importance of breathing techniques and the resulting benefits of bringing focus to your breathing, most notably its calming effect. Lengthening your breath – with long open-mouth exhales – has the ability to relax you and in turn has a domino effect throughout your body by slowing the heart beat, reducing tension, and improving your focus and output.
How do you apply breathing techniques in your everyday life? Try doing the following:
- Build it into your routine, and use them first thing in the morning and last thing at night
- Bring one hand to your heart and the other to your belly. Become aware of your breath
- Build up the length of your inhales and exhales, filling your belly (as opposed to your chest) with air. Allow your exhales to linger a moment or two longer than your inhale.
- Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique to immediately mitigate stress if you’re feeling overwhelmed
Using breathing techniques is a perfect example of how surgeons can improve their effectiveness inside and outside of the OR.
Most importantly, find 3 moments this week to PRACTICE a breathing technique and notice the benefits…
Guest: Stephanie Mathless, RYT
If you’re not familiar with Stephanie Mathless, RYT – she teaches, leads trainings, and hones her own practice at Corepower Yoga in Chicago, IL. She extols the physical and mental virtues of yoga after managing a challenging back injury though her practice. Stephanie takes great pleasure in guiding each student through their own personal journey to health and happiness.