What is Breathwork?
Photography Credit: Motion City Films
Practiced for centuries by ancient gurus, yogis, Zen Buddhists, and even shamans, the breath connection is believed to be the most central connection to what gives us life. More recently, modern science and psychology have taken a greater interest in the power of the breath and the many effects that a breathwork practice can have on our overall health. Studies show that creating a breath practice can reduce stress, depression, increase mental clarity and thought, and even improve digestion, blood pressure, and reduce the side effects of asthma. but..
WHAT IS BREATHWORK?
There are many types of breathing therapies to explore, promoting mindful awareness of the breath. Breathwork can refer to any breathing exercise or technique that changes the breath pattern. A practice can promote deep relaxation or leave you feeling energized! People often use breathwork to improve mental, physical, emotional, and even their spiritual wellbeing.
Here at EXPAND+BREATHE, we use various techniques to help you build a breath practice that is right for you, focusing on understanding how you are breathing for your body. Each workshop, private session, and class provides an opportunity to dive into the breath's psychological, physical, and emotional effects. We believe that by giving each individual a chance to learn how they breathe for their body, they can begin to take back control over their mind and body—putting you back into the driver's seat of your health! You can easily apply the methods to adapt to your life every day. And the best part is once you learn how to breathe for your body, you'll never forget it! The methods are easy to learn and use for the moments in life when you need them.
BREATHING FOR YOUR BODY
The goal is simple. You want your breathing to be mechanically sound and anatomically congruent. {1}
Many of our habits can affect our breathing. 30% of your breath capacity is affected by your posture alone. Developing a breath practice that considers how you are currently breathing for your body and your habits can have a significant impact on your ability to breathe fully and freely. You can get a better sense of your breath health by requesting a breath assessment we will analyze how you are breathing and how much your breathing, among many other factors that contribute to the health of your breathing. And Yes, you will get a grade! Determining your baseline is the best place to start seeing measurable results in a breath practice focused on improving your breathing's mechanical function.
In fact, bringing the rhythm of your breath back in sync with your body's mechanics can have a whole host of benefits to your health. Healthy breathing mechanics allows the muscles of the lungs to work more efficiently, which helps to power your body with energy and detox your system more efficiently. It also creates a more symbiotic relationship with the rhythm of your heart, internal organs and can even improve pelvic floor health. Learning to breathe with better mechanics is one of the best ways to build a healthier foundation for life and is the first place we recommend to anyone ready to start a breath practice to improve their health!
“Take this opportunity to connect to the power of the breath, and get ready to experience a profound connection to the mind, body and spirit. ”
BREATHING FOR AWARENESS, RELAXATION, IMPROVED FOCUS
The breath is a life skill that is not offered or taught by most doctors or in school. Yet, it is a life-changing skill that will maximize your emotional, mental, and physical health and happiness. For centuries yogis have spoken about the benefits of pranayama (aka breathwork) for mental capacity, awareness of Self, and your surroundings. Psychological studies have revealed breathing practices to be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for emotion enhancement, including reducing anxiety, depression, and stress. {2}
With chronic stress on the rise in our society {3}, it's no wonder that more and more people are turning to alternative health solutions such as breathwork.
Learning breathing techniques such as pranayama, zen breathing, tummo, and ancient Tibet are used to improve focus and sensory awareness and induce deep states of relaxation. You can also use these techniques to reduce sensations of mild to chronic pain! {4}
BREATHING FOR FITNESS + ENDURANCE + STAMINA
Whether you are an athlete or new to fitness, creating a breath practice can help you increase your endurance and stamina. The breath directly affects the chemistry in your body that boosts your metabolism and increases your energy. But how many times have we found ourselves tense and stuck holding our breath during our fitness routine? You may have even found yourself gasping for air or unable to meet or beat your fitness goals. By tapping into the power of the breath, you can begin to develop a breath practice that you can be integrated into your fitness routine. These exercises can be specifically targeted to improve aerobic capacity and reduce recovery time. Using techniques that have been practiced by Olympians, ultimate fighters, and deep-sea divers to move the needle on your fitness goals.
BREATHING FOR MEDITATION + SPIRITUAL CONNECTION
When we think of breathing, we may think of simply inhaling and exhaling. But breathwork can also be spiritual. When you begin to move beyond mechanics, you can use breathwork techniques for significant transformative experiences and healing. By practicing breathwork, you can start to move beyond the mind+body experience. Removing the entanglement with the ego and beginning to peel back the layers within. Many people who practice breathwork have spiritual experiences. Some describe their experience as a clearer sense of Self, have a more transparent connection to spirit and the universe. Some also experience spiritual awakenings or attunements to their inner being.
The practice of breathwork continues to evolve to include many therapeutic techniques for self-healing, self-realization, and unblock and release emotional trauma and stress. Breathing fully and freely is one of the most powerful tools to learn to improve your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
WHO IS BREATHWORK FOR?
Breathwork practices can be adopted by anyone who can breathe consciously with awareness and intent. Breathwork can be done at any age, from children in elementary school up to elderly adults. The variety of breathwork techniques allows for the practice to be catered to your specific goals and needs in mind. When practicing breathwork, we want to emphasize caution for those with epilepsy. Always talk to your doctor before beginning any breathwork therapy. Eespecially if you have a medical condition or take medications that may be affected by the practice. This includes if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a history of cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, recent physical injury, and/or severe psychiatric symptoms.
There are many varieties and styles of breathing practices to explore that go beyond our natural inhale and exhale. For more on the benefits of creating a healthy breath practice check out our blog post here. To sign up for your Free 30-Minute Consultation and receive a breath assessment, schedule your session today!
