A Cool Tool for Anxiety Reduction & Mindfulness

What is one of the best things we can do when we're stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious?
Intentional breathing practices.

Enter the "breathing necklace"!

I love this thing. It's a handy contraption that assists you in doing what is sometimes called "straw breathing." Straw breathing is a process of exhaling very slowly through pursed lips in order to calm oneself and trigger the relaxation response, which we can think of as the opposite of the fight-or-flight response. The relaxation response engages our parasympathetic nervous system, lowering blood pressure and increasing a sense of well-being. 

Straw breathing can easily be done without the necklace, but I like the sensory element of the breathing necklace. When you exhale through it, it makes a quiet wind-type sound, which I find soothing. For those of you who have taken yoga classes, the sound reminds me a bit of Ujjayi Pranayama or "Darth Vader Breath." The metal is cool and smooth to the touch. The small opening shapes your mouth as narrow as it needs to be to make the straw breathing easy and effective. Some breathing necklaces like this one pictured even have a "fidget" feature for those who like to have something to touch and play with. 

As a parent, I also find this necklace useful in those times when I need to get calm and decide how I want to respond to something my child says or does that pushes my buttons. In this case, I appreciate the necklace keeping my mouth "occupied" while I think before I speak. 

Because it is small and hangs on a long chain, it's easy to tuck in under your shirt if you dont want it showing. ​One of the benefits of wearing the necklace is that it reminds you with its physical presence that at any given moment in the day, you always have an easy way to reduce stress and anxiety, and increase mindfulness. It's right at the tips of your fingers. 

Find this online wherever you like to shop by searching terms like "breathing necklace for anxiety."