Amy Purdy - a double amputee and a champion Paralympian - teaches stress relief through breath. Just spare 3-5 minutes to see results.
The disease had affected Amy's circulatory system and soon when the infection led to septic shock -- both of her legs had to be amputated below the knee, she lost both kidneys, and her spleen had to be removed. With a near-zero per cent chance of survival, the girl just held on to dear life and fought back.
Two years later, she received a kidney transplant from her father.
Amy's many careers:
So did Amy confine herself to a wheelchair and plan for spending the rest of her years in the comfort of her study, reading and relaxing?
Far from that, this American woman is an actress, model, para-snowboarder, motivational speaker, clothing designer and author. Purdy is a 2014 Paralympic bronze medalist, 2018 Paralympics silver medalist, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world. She is also the co-founder of Adaptive Action Sports.
Life has been a medical marvel and a healing challenge for Amy. Yet she has triumphed over them all by sheer determination and keeping her eyes on the light at the end of her tunnel. Her biggest supporter is her husband Daniel Gale.
In between her jet setting and managing the many tasks she takes on, Amy does find stress creeping on and trying to overwhelm her.
Here's how she deals with it:
BOX
A SIMPLE HACK FOR REDUCING STRESS RIGHT NOW:
- Set an alarm for 3-5 minutes.
- Close your eyes and mouth.
- Breathe through your nose only.
- Inhale for a count of 4.
- Hold your breath for a count of 4. Exhale for a count of 4.
- Hold your breath for a count of 4.
"Box breathing has been a game-changer for me when I competed in the Paralympic Games and also these past few years dealing with so much uncertainty," posts Amy Purdy.
"It’s something I can do literally anytime, anywhere. I always have my breath and I always have the opportunity to change it when I need to. Personally, I think we should learn breathing techniques in school, it’s that much of an asset to have.
"If calming our breath can calm our mind, and if it’s super simple to do, why not do it?!" Amy concludes.
Why does BOX-BREATHING work and helps in reducing stress?
Amy explains: When we are stressed, our breath is short and choppy. When we are calm, our breath is slow and smooth. Our breath follows where our mind goes. But the vice versa is also true -- OUR MIND FOLLOWS TO WHERE OUR BREATH GOES -- and can be harnessed to our advantage.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE CONTROL OUR BREATH?
Our mind is hard to control, yet our breath is extremely easy to control. So instead of trying to change the state of our mind (agitated or calm), we can change our breath instead and effectively change the state of our mind.
Amy is helping you explore Pranayam or the Yoga of breathing techniques:
Breath awareness meditation, a form of mindfulness meditation, involves training the mind to focus on the present moment without judging or altering your experience. Through consistent practice, the practice can create clarity, calm, and relaxation to tackle life's biggest challenges.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
