The power of breathing goes beyond simply filling our lungs; it’s about how we use our breath to balance our nervous system, quiet our minds, and reconnect with our bodies.
Breathing shapes your body and mind:
Breathing directly influences the autonomic nervous system, controlling heart rate, digestion, and stress responses. Slow, deep breathing activates the parasympathetic system, promoting relaxation and lowering stress, while shallow, rapid breathing triggers the fight-or-flight response, preparing the body for action.
When we breathe deeply, the diaphragm moves downward, gently massaging the organs in the abdominal area, including the digestive organs. This promotes better blood circulation to the gut, supporting digestion and nutrient absorption. Additionally, breathing properly can help prevent conditions like bloating, constipation, and acid reflux.
Breathing has a profound impact on our emotional state. Conscious breathing can calm the mind, reduce anxiety, and improve emotional resilience. By activating the parasympathetic system, it counters stress responses and promotes a balanced emotional state.
The brain is highly sensitive to oxygen levels. When we breathe shallowly or too rapidly, we deprive the brain of the oxygen it needs, which can result in difficulty concentrating, mental fatigue, or a sense of brain fog. Proper breathing techniques ensure that oxygen is efficiently delivered to the brain, enhancing mental clarity, focus, cognitive performance and a calmer state of mind.
Breathing correctly can help manage pain, particularly chronic pain, by triggering the body’s relaxation response. Breathing deeply triggers the body's relaxation response, reducing muscle tension and promoting pain relief. This can be especially beneficial for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and back pain.
Deep, diaphragmatic breathing supports detoxification by encouraging the lymphatic system, which relies on movement (including breathing) to help clear waste from the body.
There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences.
You have to breathe through your nose all the time. When air enters your nose, it has to go through this maze. While it's going through that maze, it’s getting heated, it’s getting humidified, it’s removing pathogens and bacteria, and it's getting pressurised. By the time that air gets to your lungs, it can be absorbed so much more efficiently.
Breathing is not just an automatic process; it plays a significant role in our posture.
Understanding how these two elements interact can lead to improved well-being, enhanced physical performance, and reduced pain.
Poor posture, especially rounded shoulders and forward head posture, restricts the diaphragm's ability to expand fully. Dr. Eric Goodman proves that proper alignment through strengthening key postural muscles is essential before breathwork can be truly effective.
Be aware of your Posture and Movement (Throughout the Day)
Deep, Full Breaths: Engage your diaphragm and focus on moving your belly as you inhale and exhale.
Mindful Posture: Regularly check in with your posture throughout the day. Ensure your head is aligned over your shoulders, and your shoulders are relaxed and pulled back.Don’t use your shoulders to create good posture, use your core.
Stand or Sit Up Straight: Maintain an open chest and relaxed shoulders while breathing.
Use Your Breath to Move: When walking or stretching, coordinate your breath with your movement. For example, inhale as you expand, exhale as you contract or stretch.
Click the link below to view the video on Youtube:
General Daily Breathing Tips:
Breathe slowly and deeply. Avoid shallow chest breathing.
Stay relaxed. Let your breath flow naturally, without forcing it.
Be mindful. Whenever possible, bring awareness to your breath whether you’re walking, working, or relaxing.
Eliminate sources of indoor air pollution: Improve indoor air quality by using air filters and reducing irritants such as artificial fragrances, mold, and dust. Additionally, wearing natural fabrics helps reduce exposure to microplastics, which are released when synthetic clothes are worn, washed, or dried.
Take a breath
With each mindful inhale and exhale, you're not just surviving - you're healing, thriving, and fully alive. So just "Breeth" - feel the life in it.
Karmen Venter's Testimony
"Making a conscious decision to improve my posture changed everything.
I opted for a backless chair to break my slouching habit, and while sitting straight felt awkward at first, the benefits have been incredible. Beyond better posture, I'm experiencing improved breathing I never expected. Such a simple change has made such a powerful difference in how I feel every day!"
