Is breathwork “it”? In the continuous and relentless rhythm of modern life, where stress, anxiety, responsibilities, and challenges are our constant companions, simple breathing techniques effectively contribute to the overall well-being of busy contemporary people.
Daily breathing techniques, or breathwork, is rooted in ancient practices such as yoga and is renowned for its beneficial impact on both physical and mental health.
This article will explore the different benefits of daily breath work and my own experience with breathing practices, diving into how simple exercise can improve physical health, reduce stress levels, and establish greater emotional poise and mental balance.
Enhancing Physical Health via Breathwork for Stress Reduction
One of the most striking aspects of daily breath work is its immediate impact on the physical body. In a busy and fast-paced life, contemporary people are vulnerable to chronic stress and anxiety, which are the causes of countless health problems.
Daily breathwork relieves stress by increasing oxygen exchange, reducing blood pressure, slowing down the heart, and releasing any tension in the abdomen.
When you breathe deeply during breathwork, the brain receives a message to calm down and relax your body. Then, the brain sends this message to your body, muscles, and organs. As a result, everything that happens when you are stressed including high blood pressure, increased heart rate, and fast breathing all decrease when you breathe deeply.
Breathing practices are particularly effective when your body is in “fight or flight” mode. This state of mind increases your heartbeat and encourages fast, shallow breathing patterns due to imminent danger.
Breathing deeply will counteract the overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers that “fight or flight” response. Hence, breathing work is a highly effective tool to reduce stress and promote cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure and heart rate.
Improving Mental and Emotional Health via Breathwork
Beyond its impact on the physical body, daily breathwork extends its transformative power to the realm of mind.
As mentioned previously, breathing exercises work as a significant stress-management tool. They alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Since our brain associates different emotions with different breathing patterns, breathing techniques trick our brains into thinking our emotional state is different than it actually is.
For instance, when we feel happy, our breathing is regular and steady, while our breathing becomes irregular, shallow, and quicker when we are stressed, anxious, or fearful.
In this case, you can trick your brain into thinking that you are actually in a calm state by slowing your breathing down. By incorporating intentional breaths into daily routines, we can all cultivate our mindfulness, which leads to a more positive outlook and improved emotional resilience.
Personal Experience
Below is my personal experience of the change in physical and mental states when I tried a special metaverse breathing method called the 7M2B (7 Minutes 2 Bliss).
Physically it was truly surprising to be so relaxed within just 2 minutes of doing this breathing technique.
I had to pace myself a little which took a minute, but then after, as though by magic my breath rapidly became really calm and slow. I felt a sort of coldness across the back of my head and neck, as well as my back. Although I was experiencing coolness at the time of practice, my nostrils which were a bit blocked, opened and improved markedly. After the session ended, I fell into a pleasant nap right away.
Mentally, I observed that after the breathing technique, I felt as though I were lying down on a gently ebbing and flowing river. Some level of pressure was wiped clear out of my brain, and I was able to effortlessly keep my mind away from all my academic stress.
This method I found brings a very similar effect to meditation, but does it elegantly and so much quicker – within 2-3 minutes.
Conclusion
In the realm of fast, busy lives, where everything changes with uncertainty, the ancient practice of daily breathing exercises works as a significant tool bringing stability and transformation. Breathwork is one of the easiest and quickest avenues to dramatically reduce stress levels in our bodies, bringing countless health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and slowing the heart rate.
The benefits of breathing practices also extend beyond the physiological realm – it also encompasses mental, and emotional, as well as spiritual well-being.
By incorporating precise breath work practices into our daily routines, we can open our eyes to balance and vitality that not only improves the health of our bodies but also of our minds and spirits.
