Breathwork to release physical and mental tension

Every being alive breathes in some way, but practicing breathwork as a positive coping strategy and as part of a lifestyle choice can contribute to maintaining health and wellbeing.

What is breathwork?Breathwork is a holistic health practice that is commonly used with yoga or meditation to focus self on being present in the moment. In these stress-full, demanding and overstimulating times, the practice of breathwork has become popular. It’s a great way to self-regulate emotions and no other equipment is needed. It can be done anywhere, anytime but is probably more effective in a quiet space, without distractions.

Why practice breathwork? Breathwork used with meditation, yoga and mindfulness gives users the opportunity to control emotions, pain, behaviour and thinking by focusing on own breathing. As well as circulating oxygen that flows and stimulates our inner body systems to function in a balanced way, our breathing is connected to own nervous system which is often triggered by own emotions, (stress) hormones and movement. It’s quite normal to shallow breath and not use full capacity of lungs when breathing. It is not until lungs are blocked that self will be forced to breath deeply. Practicing breathwork can bring calmness and clarity to mind and thinking. It allows the mind and thinking to be temporarily still, instead of overthinking or overwhelmed. Breathwork also reduces anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

When is it best to practice breathwork?In times of stress, when mind is overwhelmed, (blood pressure is rising, heart is beating fasting or adrenaline is pumping), practicing breathwork helps to calm the mind, body and energy. It simplifies the mind so it becomes conscious instead of tapping into the complex subconscious and conditioned mind. Breathwork allows the mind to be less judgemental and mindful whilst creating a meditative space. It can release any inner tension by stimulating relaxation. Breathwork practice can be practiced as part of a lifestyle and consciously done at certain times of the day like morning (before starting the day), afternoon (to balance thinking and body) and evening (after days chores to relax mind and body).

How to practice breathwork? There are many breathwork techniques practiced like breathing from diaphragm (which involves breathing deeply and slowly using the diaphragm under the belly button as a starting area to slow down the heart rate and clear the mind. Release of breath can be done through the mouth to release energy or through the nose to circulate the energy around own body). Breathwork and meditation can be a combined practice to reveal peace of mind. Another technique involves breathing through alternative nostrils (inhaling through one nostril and exhaling through the other alternatively) which can clear blocked mental and physical energy. Regardless of the technique used, breathwork is powerful when mind actually focuses on only the breath.