As you may have guessed from the title of this blog post I have been making my film (YouTube to be precise!) debut and what a test of my nerves that was, and probably those of the very patient camera man, thank you Glenn (www.easiwebdesign.co.uk).
As always though, the deep yogic breathing technique worked a dream at keeping me calm.
We filmed the video at our MP Fit Gym Friday morning class and whilst some of the students were a little apprehensive, at first, about being on camera, we soon all settled into our “roles” and I’m pleased to say that nobody exhibited any diva like behaviour – no demands for Evian on tap or a room filled with fresh flowers.
Actually we had a great time filming, as I think you will see when we get the video up on the website. It proved to me, yet again, what a powerful tool yoga is for changing our mood and keeping us focussed and calm under pressure.
Some of the class members, even filmed testimonials for us (lured by the promise of bright lights and a longer relaxation) telling us about the benefits they’ve felt from attending the classes – thanks very much for those!
Whilst I am very comfortable teaching a yoga class in front of dozens of people, I am way out of my comfort zone “performing” for a camera.
To help settle my nerves I spent time focusing on my breathing. I took deep breaths into my abdomen, relaxing my chest and shoulders, ensuring that I was using my diaphragm properly and breathing with my nose. Our body thinks we are not getting enough oxygen if we breath with the upper chest only, which can cause feelings of anxiety. The same goes for mouth breathing which can alter the oxygen / carbon dioxide balance, again increasing anxiety levels. However if we take the time to breathe correctly we soon feel relaxed and back in control.
Take a look at our new video for yourself below:
The next time you are feeling anxious, just take a moment to notice your breath and see if it is shallow and rapid, or are you breathing with your mouth? Then at a time when you are not stressed or anxious, practise breathing correctly (you can get more information on this from the downloads page).
If you practise this regularly it will become more natural, so that when you next feel anxious you can use the technique to help you feel calm again.
To find out more about breathing properly please do contact me or come along to a class.
Until next time, take care Ix