8 Breaths to Joy: Quick, Calming Breathing Technique

The cultivation of joy is a vital part of mindfulness practice. Joy helps us to be more fully present in our lives. It also gives us the motivation we need to embrace and transform our suffering. Here is a practice for cultivating joy that you can use anytime and anywhere. You can do the entire practice in just eight breaths, or you can spend a few minutes on each exercise before moving on. Each breath has a single word to help you remember how to focus your attention. This is a safe practice that you can teach to your child, family, or friends.