It’s not what you do but the way that you do it…
“Breathing is the first act of life and the last, what a shame millions of people all over the world never learn to do it properly.”
Joseph Pilates
The simple act of breathing is much more than what we do unconsciously throughout the whole of our lives. The way we do it can impacts greatly on our health on many levels, not just on how much oxygen or carbon dioxide we have in our blood.
Breathing is very much a case of “it’s not what you do but the way that you do it”.
The way our respiratory system is designed for us to breathe in through the nose, making full use of the diaphragm is a catalyst for many other system responses that will affect how your whole body functions. Which is why breathing through the mouth has been described as being as effective as trying to eat through your nose!
Yet in our stressed and increasingly sedentary and static lives, shallow, rapid and mouth breathing are becoming the norm.
Breathwork simply refers to any type of breathing technique or exercise that is done to intentionally change your breathing pattern. There are many different styles and routines that focus on achieving general of specific benefits.
Although breathwork can be used to challenge and stress the body for increased physical performance, most exercises are aimed at gently rebalancing the mind and body back into its optimal level of function.
So what is Breathwork and how can it help you?
The biggest benefit of breathwork practice is in its ability to move the body quickly and easily out of a stressed and anxious fight and flight, sympathetic nervous system state, into a parasympathetic nervous system state, otherwise known as rest and digest or safe and socialise.
One of my favourite sayings when teaching clients how to quickly calm their anxiety is “If in doubt, breathe out.” As a long slow outbreath is the quickest and most effective method to address and prevent the symptoms and impact of stress and anxiety.
Beyond this Breathwork studies have been shown to lessen Asthma and COPD symptoms as well as increase quality of life. Here are just a few of the many issues breathwork can address and prevent:
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Chronic pain
- Gut disorders
- Depression
- PTSD
- Focus and concentration.
- Anger
- Boost immunity
- Increase sports performance
At the Healthful Mind Clinic we offer One to One and group Breathwork sessions, please call us to find out more or take a look at our What’s On page.
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