Breathwork

 

Breath is life, the invisible life force within us that animates us into life.

 

We breathe all day everyday and it usually happens without us thinking about it. What a relief that we do not have to consciously remember to breathe! The gift of breath is that we can choose to become conscious of our breathing as an indication of our state of being and we can intentionally work with our breath to shift our state of being. 

Breathwork techniques can have a profound impact on our health and wellness, as well as our reactions, decision making, intuition, creativity, and authentic expression. 

Intentionally working with this precious life force through breathwork practices can…

  • Calm your nervous system

  • Heal your body

  • Clear your mind

  • Open your heart

  • Release blocks, old patterns, and traumas from your body

  • Stimulate creativity

  • Amplify your ability to consciously manifest

  • Lead you to states of ecstasy and bliss

  • Connect you to your highest Self, your soul

  • Embody your potential

  • Free your energy for purpose


Pause right now and tune into your breath. Is it deep or shallow? Is it fast or slow? Smooth or chaotic? Rhythmic or sporadic? Are you breathing through your nose or your mouth? How would you describe the nature of your breath right now? 


Breath is a messenger, carrying information through our body about our state of being and the associated chemistry. Breathwork is an active, empowering process of consciously working with your breath using techniques for purposes to experience the benefits listed above.


Breathwork starts with learning to breathe correctly, in a way that supports our optimal health, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Then we can use elements such as the dynamic between inhales and exhales, rhythms, breath holds, toning and sounds, movement, posture, pace, and attention to consciously move breath and stimulate various states of being.


Here are some basic tips for using your breath to influence your state of being:

  • Sit or stand in an upright position to allow breath to flow freely through your body.

  • Place one hand on your belly and one hand on your chest and take a breath. Notice how they move as you breathe. Ideally, the hand on your belly rises, followed by the hand on your chest as your breath moves up from your diaphragm area to the top of your lungs.

  • With or without your hands placed on your body, practice inhaling from your belly, filling your lungs from the bottom up.. This visualization will help you use your full lung capacity.

  • You can also follow your breath and feel it fill in the front and back of your lungs to be sure you are using your diaphragm muscles correctly.

  • Remember to breathe in through your nose and exhale through your nose or mouth.

  • Make sure your breath is slow, smooth, and in a rhythm, with no pause at the top or the bottom of each breath. It will feel oceanic and cyclical.

  • You can count the length of your inhales or exhales so that you stay in a rhythm and your mind and body become entrained into coherence. (e.g., inhale to the count of four, exhale to the count of four)

  • To go into a deeper state of relaxation, further activating your parasympathetic nervous system, you can double the length of your exhale (e.g., inhale to the count of two, exhale to the count of four; or inhale to the count of four, exhale to the count of eight)

  • Imagery can be helpful too, as you imagine your body letting go of any stress, resistance, anger, frustration, or fear, feeling your body coming into a state of safety, security, and peace.

  • Continue breathing with presence and notice how your body feels, anchoring this memory of alignment in your body.

  • Practice breathing around 6 breaths per minute without sound or effort, just relaxed and healthy breathing. 


Tip: Set a reminder in your phone for 3-5 times a day to check in on the state of your breath and do some conscious breathing for 5 minutes. Notice how you can change your state of being through awareness and breath alone.


Through breathing correctly and consciously, you can begin to change your state of being and health. To go further and deeper into healing and transcendental states, other forms of breathwork can guide you there.


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