The Power of Breathwork
Breathwork is an often-overlooked tool for healing and self-regulation. Conscious breathing techniques can transform your energy, mood, and overall health. I’m always amazed at the power of our very own breath. The first thing we do as we come into this world and the last thing we do before we leave this life on Earth. Our breath is our lifeforce and when we connect with our breath, we can tap into the many benefits of simply just breathing. Let’s dive into the benefits of breathwork below.
Physical Benefits
Breathwork increases oxygen flow to your body, boosting energy and enhancing cellular health. It also supports your nervous system by activating the body’s relaxation response, reducing tension and promoting rest.
Emotional Release
Specific breathwork techniques help you release stored emotions and energy, leaving you feeling lighter and more aligned.
Spiritual Connection
Breath is life, and breathwork is a way to connect with your inner self. Many people find it to be a meditative experience that deepens their sense of spirituality.
Types of Breathwork
There’s many types of breathwork practices to try and sometimes finding a breathwork, yoga, or wellness practioner is a great way to get started with guided breathwork
Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing)
What It Is: A gentle technique that focuses on deep, slow breaths into the diaphragm rather than shallow chest breathing.
Benefits: Reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, and promotes relaxation.
How to Do It: Place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Inhale deeply through your nose, letting your belly rise, and exhale slowly through your mouth.
Box Breathing (Square Breathing)
What It Is: A structured technique involving equal counts for inhaling, holding, exhaling, and holding again.
Benefits: Improves focus, calms the nervous system, and enhances resilience to stress.
How to Do It: Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts, and hold for 4 counts. Repeat.
Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)
What It Is: A yogic practice of breathing through one nostril at a time.
Benefits: Balances energy, calms the mind, and reduces anxiety.
How to Do It: Close your right nostril with your thumb and inhale through the left. Close the left nostril with your ring finger, release the thumb, and exhale through the right. Repeat on the other side.
4-7-8 Breathing
What It Is: A calming technique involving an extended exhale.
Benefits: Induces relaxation, aids sleep, and reduces anxiety.
How to Do It: Inhale through your nose for 4 counts, hold for 7 counts, and exhale through your mouth for 8 counts.
Kapalabhati (Skull-Shining Breath)
What It Is: A cleansing breath technique using short, forceful exhales and passive inhales.
Benefits: Boosts energy, clears the mind, and detoxifies the lungs.
How to Do It: Sit comfortably, take a deep inhale, and then exhale sharply through your nose while contracting your belly. Allow the inhale to happen naturally. Repeat in quick bursts.
Holotropic Breathwork
What It Is: A powerful, fast-paced breathwork practice typically guided in workshops.
Benefits: Promotes emotional release, self-discovery, and spiritual growth.
How to Do It: Involves accelerated, deep breathing to induce altered states of consciousness.
Lions Breath (Simhasana Pranayama)
What It Is: A yogic breathing practice that involves exhaling forcefully while sticking out your tongue.
Benefits: Relieves tension, reduces stress, and boosts confidence.
How to Do It: Take a deep inhale through your nose, then exhale forcefully through your mouth while sticking out your tongue and making a “ha” sound.
Wim Hof Method
What It Is: A practice combining deep rhythmic breathing, cold exposure, and mindset training.
Benefits: Enhances energy, boosts immunity, and increases stress tolerance.
How to Do It: Take 30 deep breaths, exhaling fully each time. Hold your breath after the last exhale as long as possible before inhaling deeply again.
Do you have a favorite breathwork style? Are you looking for more guidance? Checkout the rest of my website or reach out to me today to book a 1:1 session to dive deeper into the healing practice of breathwork.
