slow beauty : part I

Inhale. Exhale. Assuming it is actually happening right now, do you ever catch yourself thinking, “I feel like I haven’t taken a breath since this morning!” Even though breathing is automatic, we can control and regulate it to help us relax and calm our minds. Inhale. Exhale.

There are different breathing techniques to stimulate different states of mind such relaxation for meditation or focus or to help diffuse stressful situations. Today, we’ll be learning about the Relaxation Breath using the 4-7-8 technique.

Inhale through your nose for a count of 4.
Hold your breath for a count of 7.
Exhale through your mouth for a count of 8.
Repeat this cycle 3 more times.

Soon, you should feel a bit more relaxed and this is your body’s way of telling you that your central nervous system has calmed down. Your heart is beating less quickly. Cortisol, the stress hormone, should now be deescalating through your bloodstream.

As you grow proficient in this technique, that is, you don’t feel like you might pass out from all this breathing; you can increase to 8 cycles. Many people use this method to fall asleep a little better, to relax throughout the day, or while in gridlock at the airport. Give it a try and see that you don’t feel a little less sweaty and anxious! Good luck and take care!

Written by Svetlana Sanchez

the reds collection is here

THE REDS - AUX ROUGE + NANCY + REGAL + SARAI ($116 VALUE)

Gressa Skin

THE REDS - AUX ROUGE + NANCY + REGAL + SARAI ($116 VALUE)

$ 89.00

Description

THE REDS. These are a lip hybrid perfection. Opaque and buildable enough to be a lipstick, glossy enough to be a stain. A light glossy coat or a full color [without running] if you scoop some up with your finger or a spatula. Either way, they are soft, non-sticky and perform all day long.

Treat lips with the moisture of a balm, the coverage of a lipstick, and the glow of a gloss. With shades ranging from subtle to statement, there’s a Lip Boost for every mood. Glam your pout with Gressa Lip Boost. Light, non-sticky and moisturizing, it feels like a balm yet looks like a gloss.

Presented in a black box, this makes a perfect gift for yourself or someone else.

Directions

Wear alone or over any lip color of your preference. Double as a blush.

Ingredients

*Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, *Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Cocoa Butter, *Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) Butter, Magnifera Indica (Mango) Butter, [+/- Titanium Dioxide CI 77891, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica CI 77019, Manganese Violet (Pigment Violet 16), CI 16035 (Red 40), CI 15850 (Red 7)]. *Ingredients from Organic farming.