A must-know breathing technique for a karma commute
Step 1
Usually performed lying down, Dirga Pranayama can be effectively performed in a standing or seated position. Begin by observing your natural breath. Expel distracting thoughts and inhale deeply through your nose, filling your belly. Exhale and draw your navel towards your spine. Empty the belly and repeat five times
Step 2
On the next in breath, fill your belly with air, take in a little more breath and let the air expand into the rib cage, stretching the chest. Exhale, letting the air out of the rib cage and then the belly, again pulling in your navel. Repeat this technique five times. Even in the most crowded carriage, you will still be able to perform this successfully
Step 3
On the next inhale, fill the belly and rib cage with air, then suck in a little more air, filling the upper chest causing it to expand and rise. Exhale, first releasing the breath from the upper chest, then the rib cage, and finally from the belly, pulling the navel towards the spine. Continue with these inhalations and exhalations for 10 breaths and commute to calm…
Karma Commute: Kindness changing the way you travel
The morning commute can be an overwhelming experience for people of all ages; with the overpacked train carriages and the fear of missing your connecting train or tube. Not to mention the heat adding an extra layer of frustration and discomfort in those hot Summer months. However, we are here to help you put yourself at ease with a little bit of kindness.
STRESSED-OUT CITIZENS
Seventy-three per cent of 25-34 year olds felt their commute was negatively impacting their stress levels, a recent poll by online estate agent Good Move suggested. This is largely unsurprising, considering the recent growth in popularity of London’s slightly more affordable (yet less-accessible) zones three and beyond. These popular areas provide more opportunity for delays and diversions to leave us feeling pent-up and frustrated, before we’ve even arrived at the office. All in all, not a great start to the day
KINDNESS IS KEY
Research has shown acts of kindness stimulate the release of the love hormone, oxytocin, which reduces tension by lowering blood pressure, and also makes us more trusting, friendly and optimistic. Carrying out good deeds triggers production of mood-regulating Serotonin in the brain, so the next time you get on the train, let someone go before you, or throw an anxious-looking parent a smile. If you’re an Uber addict, take an Uber Pool, and chat with your fellow passengers; you might just feel a surge of goodwill.
