A Trader Journal

Observing the breath:

Place one hand on the chest and other on the abdomen. Without changing your breath, notice whether you are breathing in your upper chest only or whether your breath is rapid and shallow (or) slow and regular.

Calming Breath:

• Take a long, slow inhalation through the nose - first filling your lower lungs (by pushing belly out) and then expand upper lungs. 
• Tense muscles one by one (feet, calves, thighs, abdomen, hands, raise shoulders, neck, face). 
• Then let go while slowly and completely exhaling through pursed lips (like a sigh) relaxing the muscles in the reverse order (i.e.,  face, neck, shoulders, hands, abdomen, thighs, calves and feet). If it helps let body go limp as you exhale.
• Do this occasionally during the day to release stress and muscle tension.

Quite interesting in just 1-2 breaths how noticeable difference this short and simple exercise makes. I think it is useful to have this as part of trading routine.

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