Mindful Step 3: FELT Practice—Breath Reminders

By: Janetti Marotta, Ph.D.
Private Practice
1655 Stanford Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 494-2347
info@arcfertility.com

You yourself,
As much as anybody in the
Entire universe,
Deserve your love and affection.
-Master Chin Kung

We want to practice belly breathing all the time, so natural breathing is naturally what we always do. This informal practice reminds us to touch the breath and develop a positive loving connection to its natural healing presence that is always with us. We call this the FELT practice, the acronym for:

Feel
Every
Loving
Touch

Exercise 3:
Use round felt adhesive pads, those used under chair or table legs, as reminders to belly breathe. Place felt pads on places you often touch. This may be door knobs, phones, computer mouses, refrigerator handles, purses, wrists bands etc.

When doing a FELT, take 2-3 slow, deep abdominal breaths. Notice how you feel before, during, and after each FELT. Nourish yourself each day, all the time, as you feel every loving touch of the breath.

After you have engaged in the FELT practice a few times, ask yourself these questions: Where did I place FELTs? When did I practice FELTs? How did I feel before, during, and after a FELT?

Tactile sensation or touch helps focus and sustain attention so we can connect with our intention. The sense of touch is used in Christian rosary beads to pray, Hindu mala strands to meditate, Non-Western worry beads to calm, and Native American talking sticks to speak. Through touch we feel connected. We say we feel touched, or experience something touching, when making connection. So, using these touch prompts, remind us to touch the breath, and through doing so connect the body with the mind.

If you prefer visual reminders to belly breathe, place stickers that are apt to draw your attention. This may include picture stickers, colored round labels, or Indian bindis.

If you are interested in finding the fertility clinic closest to you that has a stress reduction program please: