Breathing Space is a place you can go to get away from it all. It is a place that allows you to relax and gather your spirit and soul for quiet communion. Define your space by knowing what helps you to recover. Once you understand your needs, list three such places to escape to at any given time.

Sometimes our lives are so hectic that we need to simply get away. Getting away to a Breathing Space allows your mind, body, and soul to take a break. That break often creates a moment of recovery and inspiration. The perfect space will assist you in feeling safe and free, organized and creative, balanced and positive.

Define your space by knowing what relaxes or re-energizes you and allows you to escape. Your environment should incorporate elements that speak to you. Consider the elements of Air, Water, Earth, Fire, and Metal. Do any of them call to you in particular? Make certain that this element is a part of your Breathing Space. For instance, I love to be near water. It is relaxing and induces fluid thinking. Therefore, my Breathing Space must incorporate water. It can be as simple as a tabletop fountain or as dominating as the sea. Earth elements are grounding. Adding rocks to your sink or having concrete counters can provide the proper weightiness that you desire. In other instances, you may need the vastness of mountains or caves to conquer your stress. Some people require balance and therefore, need some representation of each element in their Breathing Space. Knowing which elements speak to you and having them represented in the space will absolutely affect the efficiency of the space.

Aesthetics count. Clean lines, country clutter, or natural spacing can make your space amazingly effective. Other ideas to consider are how your senses will be affected. You may want to explore relaxing or energizing colors, sounds of nature or music, relaxing or energizing scents, and satisfying foods and drinks. The concept of touch can be represented in the feel of the furniture or the landscape.

What activity or non-activity helps you to relax and recover? Make note of what really works for you whether it is spa experiences, sports activities, or time alone to meditate and rest. What you do to relax or re-energize is of utmost value in finding a space that transforms you.

Where should your retreat take place? Do you prefer to be inside or outside? If you need to be inside, you may be able to create your space inside your home. Another option is your favorite hotel or resort. If you prefer to be outside you might consider a walk or a night of camping.

Now that your have created the space in your mind it needs to become a reality. Having three such places in mind at any given time allows you options in different stressful moments. I love to be near water so, in a pinch I head to the beach, just one block from home. A walk along the lakeside can clear my mental clutter in an instance. In a tighter moment I head to my garden room or my bathroom. On a larger scale, a cruise is very fitting for me. This retreat offers an abundance of water, but also an opportunity to be waited on, instead of doing everything for myself. The occasional indulgence is worth the cost for me. Create a list of your options from immediate to indulgent spaces. Attempt to create at least one space at home. Three spaces should be enough to cover you in almost any moment of need.

Finally, there are moments when I am away from all of the things that I am familiar with and still I need a moment to breathe and recuperate. In these instances, I visit my virtual breathing room. It is a space that I have designed in my imagination. It has all of the elements and components I need and it is always wherever I am. I simply take a moment to center through meditation and I visualize myself in my virtual Breathing Space. This is a quick pick me up that works like a charm on a moments notice.

Create your Breathing Space and recharge your batteries as often as you need.