Maddison Farris
Lantern Staff
On Tuesday, Oct. 1 the Butler Phi Theta Kappa chapter and the SGA held a “Techniques of Breathing Relaxation” class where anyone with an hour to spare and a need for a relaxing breath of fresh air could join them on the grass outside the student union. Jan Taylor, an adjunct fitness instructor specializing in T’ai Chi, led the seminar by having the participants do various stretches to relax the mind and energize the body. The short class definitely lived up to the title as one participant became so relaxed, he fell asleep during the guided meditation portion of the session.
During the class, they learned various breathing techniques that can prove useful in any situation; one of them is to breathe in for five seconds thinking “just” and out for five seconds thinking “this”. This can help calm someone’s mind to focus on the task at hand whether that be calming down, finishing a race or making it through a difficult test. Using focused breathing can reduce stress and calm anxiety in a crucial moment. However, they should not reserve the use of this practice only for times of stress, but every day. Taylor even explained that she found it relaxing to practice while on her daily run.
