The Challenge
Try this simple five-finger breathing exercise you can do anywhere. (I use this in the dentist chair.) Hold one hand in front of you, fingers spread. Now, slowly trace the outside of your hand with the index finger on your other hand, breathing in when you trace up a finger, and out when you trace down. Move up and down all five fingers. When you’ve traced your whole hand, reverse direction and do it again. Here’s a video animation to help.
Why Am I Doing This?
This multisensory meditation practice has been popularized by Dr. Judson Brewer, director of research and innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center and author of the new book, “Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind.” Dr. Brewer, who is also a neuroscientist, says it’s important to remember that your brain is like a computer, and it has only a certain amount of working memory. Anxiety, worry and other negative emotions can take over, giving your brain less room for other tasks that require thinking and problem solving.