Take a breath in silence

I often find myself saying to stressed, overworked, younger friends, ‘Take a breath; take time for yourself.’ It’s an old saying – take a breather, and it’s one of the most sensible self-therapies we can offer a tired life and mind.

Most of us take the air we breathe for granted, but asthma sufferers know that terrifying blockage in the chest when air won’t flow. People with a bad allergic reaction that affects lungs and chest know the panic of apparent asphyxiation. Or like me, perhaps you grew up near the sea...