The Benefits of Breathwork
Breathwork is the act of consciously bringing awareness to your breath (inhaling and exhaling). It is a powerful way to tune into your body’s innate intelligence. There are many different types of breathwork, but all are the foundation of balanced emotional, physical and spiritual health. Breathing is essentially what keeps us alive, however we often forget to breathe properly - leaving us feeling anxious, stressed, and tense. Connecting with our breath enables us to be present, relax and raise our energy / vibrations. Here are some reasons as to why practicing breathwork is something you should consider if you haven’t already:
- Increase your self-awareness and be in the present moment
By allowing ourselves to breathe properly, we are then able to create space and expand our thinking. Our brain is given a chance to slow down and be in the now. When we are living in the moment, we are no longer bound to the past or the future. This also allows us to have a deeper connection with ourselves.
- Reduce stress, anxiety, anger and sadness
Although stress, anxiety, anger and sadness are part of being human, focusing on our breath allows us to recenter ourselves and can give us more control over our mood. Deep breaths slow down our heart rate and lower our blood pressure, helping us to feel calm and gain clarity.
- Boost your energy levels and immune system
Breathwork increases oxygen in our blood, helping to improve our overall energy levels. This extra energy can be great if you have had trouble sleeping or have had a stressful day, and can help boost our immune system, too.
- Reduce pain
Deep breathing allows the body to release endorphins which reduce sensitivity to pain. Breathwork also lowers cortisol, meaning your stress levels will be reduced and the feeling of pain will be much less. Practicing breathing deeply is also therapeutic for the body and helps to release tension in muscles, which is normally built up from stress and can lead to further discomfort.
- Improve digestion
Breathwork can help the stimulation of blood flow throughout the digestive system and improve intestine activity. It can also lower cortisol levels, leading to the reduction of gut inflammation. Connecting with your breath will ultimately lead to you being present in your body, helping you to listen to what it really needs and making good dietary choices - meaning you’ll be less likely to choose foods that may cause digestive issues.
You can find out about various types of breath work here.
Sources: Healthline, MindBodyGreen and Frequency.