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Do you hold your breath when you…

Oh uh…here’s a little something on email apnea

“I’ve just opened my email and there’s nothing out of the ordinary there. It’s the usual daily flood of schedule, project, travel, information, and junk mail. Then I notice…I’m holding my breath.

As the email spills onto my screen, as my mind races with thoughts of what I’ll answer first, what can wait, who I should call, what should have been done two days ago; I’ve stopped the steady breathing I was doing only moments earlier in a morning meditation and now, I’m holding my breath.

And here’s the deal. You’re probably holding your breath, too.

I wanted to know – how widespread is “email apnea*?” I observed others on computers and Blackberries: in their offices, their homes, at cafes — the vast majority of people held their breath, or breathed very shallowly, especially when responding to email. I watched people on cell phones, talking and walking, and noticed that most were mouth-breathing and hyperventilating. Consider also, that for many, posture while seated at a computer can contribute to restricted breathing.

Does it matter? How was holding my breath affecting me?

I called Dr. Margaret Chesney, at the National Institute of Health (NIH)…” More here.

About the author

Kim Klaver

1 Comment

  • This one’s funny Kim. I realized I go through my email and have this response all the time. It gets worse when an email shows up demanding that I DO something. I feel overwhelmed already, and there is yet another something to add to my list. Also, what if I don’t know how to DO what the email is asking me to do? That’s a frequent event. 🙂

    I have been meditating for years, and know Dr. Weil’s work very well also. This inner response still happens anyway.

    Too bad all the practice is not building up immunity! Zorba the Greek referred to life as “the whole catastrophe” . . . I guess we’re all in it.

    Here’s to life,
    Pam
    http://www.mywholefoodnation.com
    drpam.networkmarketingcentral.com

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