December can be an overwhelming month filled with traveling and holiday plans. Taking a moment to do a simple breath work practice can help to regulate our nervous systems and keep us grounded throughout the season. This particular practice helps to stimulate our vagus nerve which is a major player in our parasympathetic response. This technique does not take much time to practice and is simple enough for the whole family to benefit from!

Humming Meditation: 

• Sit comfortably in a quiet place
• Close your eyes and take a few deep slow breaths. Then close your lips and take a deep breath in and begin to exhale slowly through your nose with a humming sound. Continue humming until the end of your exhalation.
• Repeat.
• Imagine that the ‘hum’ travels through your whole body, from head to toe. Continue this breath for 1 minute initially then increase the time to 10-15 minutes as you feel comfortable.

If you are interested in more ideas for activating your parasympathetic nervous system and building your body’s resilience against stress, please ask your doctor at your next appointment!