Wanted to share what's working for me. Been practicing this as I prepared to quit and began cutting back on smoking. Now to see if it really works beyond the cutting back (Only been smoke free about 14 hrs - so far)
What I do to help me through a trigger time or craving is to very slowly, purposefully and mindfully do a simple exercise with focus on my breath. (This is not a workout - it's almost a meditation in movement) For instance after my morning coffee I may just grab a free weight and do a bicep curl EXTREMELY slow - like 10 seconds lifting and 10 seconds going back down - I may repeat this 2 or 3 times at the most focusing on my breath and the movement (try it - man it's a tough little exercise and lasts only about 3 to 5 minutes ) Or I do a push up as slow as possible - again with focus. Next craving I may do a Yoga pose (so that I'm working different parts of my body through out the day while trying to get past the crave time). It also gets me to drink more water and forces me to breathe deeper. And the "time" it takes to do the exercise is about the same time I'd take to smoke - so that might have a psychological effect on me too. Who knows?
It has really helped me get past a trigger/craving (without taking up much time) and without realizing it, these small spaced exercises have already changed my body!!! In just a short 2 weeks of preparing to quit.
Maybe this will work for some of you too, If so let me know.
