The Benefits of Breathwork

It feels like the year just started, but we're already halfway through 2024! Crazy how time flies, right?

In this fast-paced world, looking after your mental health and well-being is important for staying happy and fulfilled. But it can be hard to make time to do the things that help us most. Luckily, there's one tool that's free, easy, and always available: breathwork!

If you're unfamiliar with the ins and outs of intentional breathwork, you might question how and why you should practice it. But we're here to share that there are a lot of powerful benefits to breathwork that can help change your life for the better!

Keep reading as we cover what "breathwork" is, the benefits behind adding it to your daily routine, and an example of how to practice it!

What is Breathwork?

Breathwork is a practice that incorporates many different techniques and methods that are used to help improve one's mental, physical, and emotional health. There are many forms of complex breathwork that you can practice, but there are also plenty of quick and easy breathwork exercises that you can incorporate into your daily life. 

In addition to being a popular form of relaxation, there are several other benefits to practicing breathwork in your day-to-day. 

Benefits of Breathwork

Increases Energy

One huge benefit of breathwork for fitness fanatics or anyone working to be more active is its ability to increase energy levels. Shallow breathing is common during times of stress, both physical and mental. Practicing breathwork allows us to take in more oxygen to help fuel the cells that keep us healthy and energized!

Lowers Blood Pressure 

Breathwork has also been proven to help lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation throughout the body. There are lots of breathing exercises that can help activate our parasympathetic nervous system (aka the network of nerves that helps the body relax after stressful or dangerous situations), which will help decrease your heart rate and dilate your blood vessels.

Practicing slow and deep breathing techniques can help reduce blood pressure by signaling to your body that it can relax.

Strengthens Lungs

When you have healthy lungs, breathing feels natural and easy. But over time, our lungs can weaken. Like practicing aerobic exercises that improve heart function and strength, breathing exercises can strengthen your lungs and train them to work more efficiently. Regular breathwork can help rid the lungs of accumulated stale air, increase oxygen levels, and support the diaphragm in returning to its job of aiding in breathing. 

Improves Focus

Research has shown a correlation between our level of focus and breathing because our breath can impact the chemical messenger noradrenaline, which plays a role in how our brain perceives work. Breathing can also help by calming distracting emotions and working as an exercise to improve our attention span.

So, if you find focusing at work or during your workout difficult, you might find that breathwork can help you increase your focus.

Improves Sleep

With so many relaxation benefits, it's not surprising that breathwork can improve our sleep. Many slow breathing exercises can help us settle down or quickly fall asleep on nights when we're having trouble getting to bed. These deep and controlled breathing techniques help lower our heart rate to induce a state of calmness and relaxation that will help us get to sleep and stay asleep.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

One of the top benefits of breathwork is its ability to help us reduce stress and anxiety naturally. Intentional breathing can help us cancel out our flight-or-fight response to stressful situations to complete our body's natural stress cycle. Because it's a mindfulness method, it can also help ground us in the present moment during times of anxiety to remind our mind and body that it's safe.

Box Breathing Example

Box breathing is a deep breathing technique. It is typically used to slow your heart rate, regulate overwhelming emotions, and improve concentration.

Here's how to do it:

1. Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds.
2. Hold at the top of your breath for 4 seconds.
3. Exhale for 4 seconds.
4. Hold at the end of your exhale for 4 seconds.

In Conclusion...

In a world where time seems to fly by, let this be your reminder that the best time to start prioritizing your mental health and well-being is now!

The power of breathwork goes beyond relaxing. It opens the possibility of unlocking a variety of health benefits that can positively impact our minds and bodies. Incorporating simple yet powerful breathing techniques into our daily routines creates a foundation for living a healthier and happier life, one breath at a time.

Do you practice breathwork? Let us know how you add this to your routine in the comments below!