Co-regulation: Art of building calming connections

As a kid, I despised the times I was forced to take afternoon naps as all I wanted to do was play or watch T.V!

I used to take naps with my grandparents and oftentimes I got bored and restless when I couldn’t fall asleep. One day I started to observe my dadu’s protruding belly as he slumbered beside me.I found it funny at first and then out of boredom I developed a game for myself where I started to match my breathing with his rising and falling belly.

Soon it became my nap time ritual and lulled me to sleep.

Years later, when I came across terms like coregulation and diaphragmatic breathing. Suddenly, my childhood game made sense. It’s amazing how our childhood experiences hold so much knowledge and coping mechanisms.

Nowadays, I do this with my partner, friends or Barfi.

It reminds me I don’t need to struggle alone.

Did you also have any rituals as a kid which makes more sense now?

#mindfulness#mindfulbreathing#coregulation#support