Breathwork

What is breathwork? Breathwork includes different breathing techniques to help improve your mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Throughout most of the day, we breathe unconsciously; however, when breathing consciously, your mind slows down and focuses on the present moment. This can significantly impact the way you feel at that moment and over time.

Think about it… when you are stressed and anxious, your unconsciously breathing quickly, your heart is beating rapidly and your mind is racing. It is well known that stress can take a toll on your body not only mentally but physically; some ways include inflammation, digestive issues, high blood pressure, insomnia, weakened immune system and much more. Learning to control your breathing along with other lifestyle changes is just another way to ease, if not rid of these symptoms.

Breathwork can help you move your mind and body out of “fight or flight” mode, the name of the system that is responsible for this is known as the sympathetic nervous system. This system increases when you are stressed or are in danger. On the other hand, the system that helps calm your body after the “fight or flight” response is known as the parasympathetic nervous system. This is when breathwork comes in, when consciously breathing and working on certain breathing techniques, this activates your body’s parasympathetic nervous system to help you de-stress and de-escalate.

Benefits of breathwork include, reduced anxiety and depression, balanced blood pressure, better mental focus, reduces inflammation in the body, improved immune system, more time in deep sleep, release of stress hormones in your body and overall help you feel calm and relaxed. When practicing breathwork, you should be seated not standing and more importantly not driving as it can cause lightheadedness. Over time, after practicing at beginner techniques, your body with adapt and your breathwork will improve.

While there are many different breathwork techniques, here are a few popular ones:

Deep Abdominal Breathing- As you breathe in visualize your breath filling up your body. Your belly and chest should both expand when you inhale, then, when you exhale, your chest relaxes, and your navel pulls back in toward your spine.

4-7-8 Breath- This is a counting technique, breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, then exhale for 8 seconds, aiming to really empty your lungs.

Alternate Nostril Breathing- For this technique, start with applying pressure to your right nostril with finger. Breathe in using only your left nostril, hold your breath as you switch sides. Release your right nostril and apply pressure to the left nostril as you exhale through the right nostril. This type of breathing technique helps balance your mind and body.

Halotropic Breathing- This technique is more advance and consists of continuous inhaling and exhaling patterns with no pause in between.