Breath

Welcome to Your Weekly Words with Julie Avis Rogers, where public speaking meets personal flourishing. In these posts (the video and the written transcript below), I’ll share one word to enhance your effectiveness as a public speaker while also giving a boost for your soul! This week’s word is *breath* so let’s dive in!

I imagine that you’ve already heard all sorts of advice and information about the importance of your breath. Likely this advice has come from all different directions– yes, deep intentional breaths are a key element in public speaking– but it’s also talked about frequently in such seemingly-disparate areas as spirituality, sports, singing, exercise, even parenting!

Yes, the importance of the breath comes sneaking its way into our lives from ALL directions!

So today, I’m going to start with the assumption that you already know that it’s a good idea to take deep, nourishing breaths. I’m going to start with the assumption that you know it will help with your pacing, your feeling of calm confidence, and the ability to communicate with a strong voice.

So instead of coming ‘atcha with all of that information that I suspect is already there– let’s instead use our time together to practice and embody good nourishing breaths.

To get your body ready to do this, let’s start at your nose. Take a moment right now and take 3 breaths— inhaling and exhaling– simply through the nose.

1…. 2…..3…..

Nose breaths are a pretty phenomenal trick! It’s nearly impossible to take quick shallow breaths at the nose. And they are SUBTLE! When listening to someone speaking, when sitting in the car, even while giving a presentation, a breath through the nose will slow you down, bring you into the present, and meanwhile, no one else around you will even notice.

So let’s do it again. 3 nose breaths– inhaling and exhaling.

1…2…..3….

I hope if you’re really doing this with me, that you might be noticing a bit of calm coming into your system already. And if you’re not, continue giving this a try throughout your day today.

Now let’s allow your body to experience the difference between a quick, shallow breath and a deep belly breath. For many of us, our default way of breathing– particularly when we are feeling nervous or we are standing in front of an audience– is to give ourselves nothing more than shallow breaths that seem to end right here around the shoulders and collar bone.

So let’s actually experience those shallow breaths together right now saying “Good morning, I am so glad to see you today” bookended by a quick shallow breath. Something like this:

(Quick shallow breath) Good morning. I am so glad to see you today. (Quick shallow breath)

Take a moment and give that a try.

I’m already noticing a little panic setting in.

So now, let’s repeat that same sentence but allow your breath to go as far down into your belly and even into your diaphragm as you can. Something like this:

(Deep breath) “Good morning. I am so glad to see you today.” (Deep breath)

Now give that a try.

If you have a moment, try that contrast again, first with the quick shallow breath and then with the deep breath.

(Quick shallow breath) Good morning. I am so glad to see you today. (Quick shallow breath)

(Deep breath) “Good morning. I am so glad to see you today.” (Deep breath)

By actually practicing this with me in this moment, you have already taught your body something important. You can come back to this post whenever you want a refresher on how breathing feels in your individual self but most importantly, I hope you can just relax and enjoy the knowledge that just by getting here right now, you have done something huge and something that I know will be

a gift to you, a gift to your audience, and a gift to whatever message it is that you are hoping to get out there.

Enjoy the deep breaths and have a great day.

Ready for more? Click here to book a free exploratory session with me where we can discuss your questions or concerns about public speaking and if I might be able to support you on your speaking journey. Visit my website to learn more about how to become a more confident, authentic public speaker while boosting your personal flourishing along the way!