Breathe! Breathe in and breathe out. Take deep breaths in through your nose and breath out through your mouth. Breathe deeply and consciously.

Are you finding it difficult to breathe wearing a mask? These masks are important to wear during the Covid-19 pandemic when we are around other people during our rare trips to the food store or pharmacy. Personally, it discourages me from making unnecessary trips out of the house. I just cannot breathe well while wearing the mask.

However, this makes it all the more important to breathe, and to breathe deeply when we can. Here in Switzerland there are only rare cars on the road and the air is surely cleaner. I hope the same is true for you. Open the window and breathe deeply. Again, take deep breaths in through your nose and then breath out through your mouth. Do it consciously. Feel the cool air entering and the warmer air leaving your lungs.

An energizing breathing exercise is to breathe in to the count of 5; hold that breath for the count of 5; breathe out to the count of 5; then hold the breath for the count of 5. Continue to do this several times. I find that it revitalizes me to do this during the day and surprisingly becomes calming when I use it at night to go to sleep.

Breathing consciously will help both your physical health and enhance your age-esteem.

Bonnie Fatio