Learning how to breathe “correctly” is so important for our mental health that there are schools, such as Breathing Space in London, that run courses on breathing techniques and mindfulness.
Studies have shown that these two disciplines can greatly alleviate feelings of anxiety and be of invaluable support to our mental wellbeing. Many traditional schools now include the subject in their curriculums.

But how does that help those of us who are not school-aged, or do not have the disposable income to enrol on a course? Apart from anything, most people I know are so hugely time deficient that finding time for themselves takes days or weeks to organise properly!
Even when we do have time off, our free days are often filled with family commitments or getting on top of the cleaning and food shopping etc. If we do find a sliver of quality time, then actually focusing on something for ourselves whilst trying to notice our breathing, in my experience, can be stressful in itself.

It’s well known that mindfulness works, yet it’s equally known that it’s not an easy skill to master. It takes a LOT of brain power, and copious practice, to essentially “switch off” all other thoughts in favour of consciously focusing on one. And I’ve found that my mind often wanders so much that when I harness my thoughts back to what I was meant to be focusing on, I then get anxious over whether my breathing is “correct”.
So what can you do to make mindfulness easy for you to practice?

For some years now I’ve been trying to find the “shortcuts”. I have been in the bath trying to study the moulding of the tap, yet fretting about my breathing. Result: I’m more anxious than I was when I got into the bath! “Gosh Emma can’t you even get the breathing bit right?”
But it dawned on me that (and especially if you are new to this) it’s not important to worry so much about the breathing aspect. It will modulate itself.
The trick is to fully concentrate on the object you have in mind. For example, if it is the bathroom tap, keep focusing on its shape and colour. Go as far as you can with your imagination, envisage that the whole wall behind it is silver. Think about as many other silver objects as you can: coins/plates/jewellery/crowns. Then recall all the silver things you have seen during the day, “pin” them behind your tap until you can think of no more.

This will take a few minutes and when you’ve pictured everything possible you will indeed have practised mindfulness and your breathing will have calmed and self-regulated. Try as many different tricks and techniques as you can think of – it doesn’t matter how trivial they seem, as long as they help you to calm and focus, your breathing will then follow.