More Than Our Story

The Benefits Of Breathwork

Table of Contents

What Is Breathwork and How Does It Work?

Breathing is something we do constantly. However, this simple act can serve as a valuable tool to enhance both your mental and physical health. Combining breathing exercises with mindfulness, breathwork is gaining popularity for its profound impact on overall well-being. Intentionally controlling your breathing patterns can bring a wealth of physical, mental, and emotional benefits, restoring balance to your body and mind.

The Benefits Of Breathwork

By consciously changing how we breathe, we influence our central nervous system, energy levels, and state of mind. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by stress and feel out of control. When you focus on breathing, you allow your body the chance to reset and recover from the adverse side effects of stress.

Many people use breathwork to deepen relaxation, improve focus, and reduce stress and anxiety, which helps them unwind before bedtime. It may also help with the symptoms of certain physical illnesses.

BENEFICIAL BREATHWORK:
Research on breathwork is promising, with potential health benefits including alkalizing your blood pH, reducing inflammation, and improving your mood.

Physical Benefits of Breathwork May Include:

  • Deepen relaxation 
  • Strengthened immune system
  • Improved sleep quality
  • Improved alertness, focus, and memory
  • Improved heart health (lowers: heart rate, blood pressure, and strain on the cardiovascular system; increases: heart rate variability (HRV – a metric associated with longevity and fitness)
  • Increased respiratory function and lung capacity (helps reduce symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma)

Emotional Benefits May Include:

  • Enhances focus, mood, mental clarity, and outlook on life
  • Helps regulate emotions (reduces symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression)
  • Alleviates emotions associated with PTSD, grie,f and trauma
  • Decreases addictive behaviors

Possible Side-Effects of Breathwork

If you’re new to breathwork, more advanced techniques may lead to hyperventilation, which can be dangerous because it can cause dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms, or changes in your vision due to a lack of oxygen. If you experience any of these adverse reactions, consult your family doctor.

Popular Breathwork Exercises

Popular breathwork meditation exercises include the 4-7-8 breathing technique, alternate nostril breathing, box breathing, and diaphragmatic breathing.

4-7-8 Breathing

This breathwork practice involves inhaling for 4 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and then exhaling for 8 seconds. Repeat this process several times.

Alternate Nostril Breathing

This breathwork practice involves covering one nostril and alternating between it and the other on each inhale and exhale. Repeat this process several times.

Box Breathing

This breathwork practice involves inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 4 seconds, exhaling for 4 seconds, then holding again for 4 seconds. Repeat this process several times.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

Place one hand on your chest and one on your belly. Focus on expanding the belly as you inhale and gently contracting it as you exhale.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF BREATHWORK:
Breathwork requires focus. You can get distracted by noise and your surroundings. Try practicing breathwork in a calm, peaceful environment to get the most out of it.

Breathwork For Healing and Personal Growth

Some styles of breathwork transcend relaxation, aiming to facilitate deep emotional healing and altered states of consciousness. These practices can be cathartic and transformative, helping individuals process trauma, gain insight, and cultivate self-awareness.

Final Thoughts

Breathwork is a simple, accessible, and powerful practice that offers both immediate and long-term benefits, both physical and mental. From calming anxiety to enhancing focus, improving sleep quality, and promoting physical health, the act of conscious breathing is a low-risk, low-cost gateway to greater balance and vitality.

Whether practiced for five minutes a day or as part of a structured program, breathwork can be a transformative addition to anyone’s self-care routine.

SOURCES
Picture of Daniel

Daniel

Daniel is an extremely curious person, a wealth of random knowledge and facts. Extremely passionate about a vast array of interests ranging from health to history, science to athletics, everything culinary and the list goes on. Trust us, you would want to be on his team for Trivial Pursuit. Daniel is also years into his battle with brain cancer. He experienced a seizure while on a Zoom call at work in late 2020 and quite literally, his life changed within minutes. After his operation he started to talk about his story but had always known it was more than just him. From then, More Than Our Story became a PROJECT that has evolved into the starting point it is today.

Related Health Articles

Health

Shrimp are a great source of lean protein, low in calories and high in nutrients, however like most foods there are health considerations... so let’s dive in.

Health

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage to the regions of the brain that control language expression and comprehension.

Health

Health is more than physical. It encompasses all areas of our lives. If your physical health is not at its best there are other ways to maintain your overall health.

Health

We all handle grief and loss differently, thankfully there are strategies that help us navigate these tough times, and move us beyond grief.

Health

Manuka honey is a delicious honey native to New Zealand, renowned for its healing properties and incredible health benefits.

HealthLifestyle

Art is more than just a celebration of creativity - it’s a testament to the enduring power of creativity to inspire, educate, heal, and unite us.

Health

Every 3 minutes someone in Canada hears the words “you have cancer" and their lives are forever changed. Donate this Daffodil Month and help hope bloom.

Health

Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress, something that everyone deals with; let’s review some methods for managing it.

Health

Boasting a range of nutritional, environmental, and culinary benefits, here’s why adding bison to your diet could be a smart move.

Health

Stephen Glaus shares his MS story, what it's like living a day in his life, and his mindset on waging war daily against this disease.

Health

If you’ve ever had to shovel your driveway in the cold, dark winter months, chances are you’ve experienced some form of seasonal depression.

Health

Nuts are a great source of plant-based protein, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that provide a whole host of health benefits.

Health

Plant-based diets are not just the newest trend; it's a conscious shift towards a lifestyle that nurtures our bodies and respects the planet.

Health

In today’s world, sleep often takes a backseat to work, social obligations, and screen time, but its importance cannot be overlooked.

Health

Oils are an integral part of cooking. They appear in many of our favorite recipes, and play a pivotal role in various cooking techniques.

Health

Dieting can have a major impact on your health, including propensity for certain cancers. Help prevent and beat cancer with this healthy eating guide.

Health

The Health Benefits of Rutabaga Table of Contents The Incredible Rutabaga Rutabaga, also known as Swedish turnip, wax turnip, swede or neep, is a cold-hearty root vegetable in the

HealthMy Journey

With the summer ending, I reflect upon recent personal, physical and mental adversities my family and I have had to endure, and look forward to a new year.