Whether you’re doing a formal neural retraining program, or creating your own practice to manage physical, mental and emotional stress, breathwork is one of the most powerful rewire tools that you have in your toolbox.
What are the benefits of adding breathwork and how can you gently and effective include it in your practice?
Today we’ll be talking about some of the benefits and I’ll share my newly released Calming Breath Guided Meditation, then next week we’ll be talking about how to create a practice that starts where you’re at and gently builds.
A few of the benefits of a breathwork practice are:
Reduced stress response
Your breath is a part of your autonomic nervous system. So when you become stressed, your “fight or flight” system response automatically kicks in and your breathing automatically becomes fast and shallow. But your breathing is also under your voluntary control. By consciously slowing and deepening your breath, you can guide your nervous system out of stress and into relaxation. In this way, the breath becomes like a remote control for your nervous system.
Improved digestion
Breathing does more than just calm the nervous system. Once the nervous system is in the relaxed parasympathetic (“rest and digest” mode) your body is able to direct energy and resources toward other body functions like digestion. Also, with deep slow breathing, the diaphragm gently massages the organs of your digestive system which supports the movement of food through the system.
Better sleep
When the nervous system is activated in the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous system, it’s difficult for the brain and body to settle down for sleep. Certain breathing techniques are able to signal the nervous system that it’s safe to relax and allow sleep. Breathwork can quiet that racing inner voice and allow the body to relax into a nourishing deep sleep.
Balancing emotions
As you practice breathwork and create a more balanced nervous system, you’ll notice that you become less reactive to the little things that are going on around you. You’ll be better able to direct your mind and body toward a calm relaxed response. You’ll become more aware when you are experiencing stress, and you’ll have the resources to move through and guide yourself toward a calm response.
More energy
Stress is such an energy hog! When we’re stuck in a stress response, the body routes all of its energy toward survival as it prepares to fight or flee, and the brain burns energy as it is on high alert. Breathwork brings down the stress response and frees up energy and resources that you’ll now have available for other activities.
And of course there are many other benefits, like improved immune response, greater ability to detox, and improved cognitive function.
So how can you incorporate breathwork into your practice?
I’ll be talking about how to create a breathwork practice in my next newsletter as well as some great ways to increase and grow your practice, so stay tuned! If you’re not already receiving my newsletter and you want to be added to my list, here’s a link to sign up so you’ll be sure to get it delivered to your inbox.
But for now, here’s a link to my Calming Breath Guided Meditation to help you gently guide your breath into a calming state.
This Calming Breath Guided Meditation is great to do on a daily basis to create a foundation of calm and peace either during your day or as you prepare for sleep. It’s also wonderful to do when you recognize that you’re in a stress response and are wanting to move into a place of relaxation.
I’d love to hear what you think and how this Calming Breath Guided Meditation works for you!
