Over the course of the previous five years, the number of people searching for “breathwork” has climbed six-fold. Additionally, studios and breathwork instructors around the nation have reacted to the increased interest in breathwork by providing breathwork retreats, corporate seminars, internet courses, and individual workshops.
Breathwork has been shown to positively affect our health, even if it is a fundamental practice.
- It relieves tension in a matter of seconds.
Breathing mindfully might be one of the quickest strategies to deal with the pressures of daily living. High amounts of cortisol may promote chronic inflammation in the body, which is the body’s natural reaction to stress. As a result, our blood pressure might be lowered as a result of practicing deep, leisurely breathing.
- When used in conjunction with other treatments, it may help alleviate symptoms of depression.
Coherent breathing and Iyengar yoga have been linked to reduced symptoms of depression. Depressive symptoms decreased, and clinical improvements were seen in those who used the techniques for a total of 12 weeks.
Stress-reduction benefits of meditative breathing include a reduction in the amygdala’s size, which is a brain region responsible for inducing fight-or-flight responses in the body. This, in turn, boosts the prefrontal cortex’s capacity for higher-order thinking.
- It may aid in the treatment of chronic pain.
Doctors and patients are increasingly looking for alternatives to prescribing pharmaceuticals for pain management in light of the opioid epidemic. Some people may find relief via the practice of deep breathing with the help of a breathwork instructor. Patients with chronic pain may be able to manage their symptoms better if they practice deep, calm breathing. Norepinephrine is a key player in the pain pathway, so if we can regulate cortisol and reduce inflammation, we can reduce the experience of pain.
The diaphragm links directly to the portion of the spine where most individuals experience back pain. There will be less blood flow and movement if you aren’t utilizing your diaphragm to breathe. Those cortisol increases stated earlier may also stimulate our spine’s trigger points, causing discomfort.
Conclusion
A variety of methods are available to get you started with breathwork. Breathwork instructors suggest experimenting with diaphragmatic breathing, which is inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the abdomen. Other breathing techniques are box breathing, 4-7-8 breath, 2-1-4-1 breath, and alternate nostril breathing. Try out a few different things and see what works best for you.
