Breathwork, 2 Ways

Breathing is possibly one of the most underrated tools you already have! We breathe every single day and it has become something that we don’t even think about. Though breathing is a subconscious act, it can also be a controlled one.

Breathwork – What is it?

Breathwork is a term used broadly to describe various breathing exercises to promote mental, physical, and emotional healing. According to an expert at the American Association for Respiratory Care, breathing is part of the automatic nervous system, connecting “involuntary bodily functions to the rest of the body.” It also directly impacts the amount of oxygen our cells are getting. Slow, controlled breath allows for better communication between cells.

Benefits of Breathwork:

There are numerous mental and physical benefits of breathwork. They include improved sleep cycles, reduced stress and anxiety, better attention span, and increased feelings of relaxation and calm. It can also suppress inflammation by calming your nervous system and increasing the production of your happy hormones, like “serotonin” and “dopamine.” These hormones help neutralize some of the stress-related acid in your body. In other words, breathing can actually support the body’s healing process on a cellular level.

Breathwork can be used to calm, but it can also be used to fuel energy. We are providing an exercise for each of these!

Breath Exercise : Energy

Let's engage in a one-minute breathwork exercise to invigorate and energize your body.

Close your eyes and sit comfortably. Take a deep inhale through your nose, expanding your lungs fully, and exhale through your mouth, releasing any tension. Inhale deeply again, imagining fresh energy entering every cell of your body, and exhale, letting go of any fatigue.

Now, transition to quick, energizing breaths—inhale rapidly through your nose, focusing on the sensation of energy entering your body, and exhale swiftly through your mouth. Keep a steady pace, allowing each breath to increase your vitality.

As you continue, visualize a vibrant energy circulating within you, awakening every part of your being. With each breath, feel a surge of vitality, as if you are charging your body with renewed strength.

In the final moments, take a deep, cleansing breath in, hold it briefly, and exhale fully. Open your eyes, feeling energized and ready to embrace the vitality that breathwork has awakened within you. Carry this revitalized energy with you into your day.

Breath Exercise : Calm

Let's engage in a one-minute breathwork exercise to bring calmness and lower anxiety in your body.

Begin by finding a comfortable seated position. Close your eyes and take a slow, deep breath in through your nose (4-5 second inhale), allowing your lungs to fill completely. Hold the breath for a brief moment, and then exhale gently through your mouth, releasing any tension (5-7 second exhale).

Continue with slow, rhythmic breaths, inhaling serenity and exhaling stress eight more rounds of breath. As you breathe, imagine a calming wave of light flowing through your body, soothing each part it touches.

Now, transition into diaphragmatic breathing—inhale deeply through your nose, allowing your abdomen to expand, and exhale slowly through your mouth, letting your abdomen contract. Focus on the gentle rise and fall of your breath, allowing it to anchor you in the present moment.

With each breath, release anxiety and invite tranquility. Visualize any tension melting away, replaced by a sense of peace. As you continue, remind yourself that you are in control of your breath, and by doing so, you are cultivating calmness within.

In the final moments, take a final deep breath, exhale slowly, and gently open your eyes. Feel the calm energy you've cultivated, ready to embrace a more relaxed and centered state of being.

Carry this calmness with you as you move forward in your day.