by Molly Black // EAT STRETCH NAP™ Contributor // Founder of Wellness by Molly

If you want to be more mindful, increase confidence, decrease stress, AND combat anxiety - there is one thing you can focus everyday that will help:

Improving your mind-body awareness.

Below are four techniques to help you become more mindful through mind-body awareness.

Place one hand on your heart and one hand on your stomach and feel your body move with each breath.

This grounding exercise helps you arrive in the space you’re in and creates a soothing effect. Start your day this way to bring your focus inward and to help ease unsettling thoughts and feelings. You can also do this if you’re about to give a presentation, feeling social anxiety, or going into an interview. Basically, whenever you feel ungrounded, try this out!

Focus on your breath.

Almost every yoga teacher uses the phrase “focus on your breath” because it’s one of the best ways to increase body awareness. Take time to tune in and notice changes in your breathing throughout your day. Focusing on your breath naturally brings you more energy and a sense of calm. If you feel stressed, try this simple breathing technique: Let out a big sigh or release a deep exhalation as you push your hands away from you. This creates a sense of you literally pushing away negativity. Now who doesn’t want that?

Practice “Breath of Joy”

Breath Of Joy, a breath control technique, is an amazing way to combat depression. While standing, lift your arms parallel to the ground in front of you breathing in through your nose, lower your hands to your sides, while inhaling again lift your arms out into a “T Shape,” inhale a third time and lift your arms over your head, then on your exhalation bend at your waist into a forward fold and send your arms behind you. Let your exhalation out through your nose. Repeating this 6 - 12 times can help energize you and improve your mood!

Do some yoga!

Practicing asana, or yoga poses, are a wonderful way to create more mind-body awareness. Understanding how your body moves and how your breath changes throughout your movements will allow you to have more awareness in your everyday life. If you’re intimidated by yoga, try practicing at home online or check out EAT STRETCH NAP’s Sunday Stretch class, it’s great for beginners!

There are so many ways we can become more connected to ourselves through our bodies. How will you utilize these techniques?