The Benefits of Breathwork and How it can Help

Let’s talk about Breathwork…we are seeing some great progress with our clients when introducing breathwork into their treatment plans! We understand that our clients who are dealing with mental health challenges and trauma are under a lot of stress and experience many anxiety symptoms that often present in the body. By teaching and helping our clients practice breathwork we hope to help promote a sense of relaxation to help decrease stress levels and experience of these debilitating symptoms.

What is Breathwork?

Breathwork is an ancient practice that has been making a comeback in holistic wellness. Even Tibetan Buddhists use breathwork tools to help calm the nervous system and create inner peace. Breathwork involves breathing in a conscious and systematic way that helps promote deep relaxation to help decrease levels of stress. 

Practicing breathwork can:

• Aid in positive self-development

• Process and heal emotional pain/trauma, often present in the body 

• Reduce stress and anxiety levels and symptoms

• Release negative thoughts and feelings 
  

It has also been used to help improve:

• Anxiety

• Chronic pain

• Depression

• Grief

• PTSD

There are several types of breathwork techniques. Here are some examples you can try: 

Deep Abdominal Breathing 

A technique using long deep breaths. Breathe in and out visualizing breath filling up your body. Belly and chest should both expand when inhale. When you exhale, the chest relaxes, and the navel pulls back in toward the spine. This type of deep breathing teaches the body to relax.

4-7-8 Breathing

A technique that adds in counting beats as you breathe in and out as a way to quiet and focus the mind. Breathe in for four beats, hold the breath for seven beats, and then exhale for eight beats. A longer exhale encourages emptying the lungs and reduction of nervous system agitation. 

Alternate Nostril Breathing

A technique where you start with your right thumb applying pressure to the right nostril. Breathe in using only the left nostril and hold your breath as you switch sides. Release the right thumb and use the right index finger to apply pressure to the left nostril as exhale through the right nostril. Pause, take another deep breath in, and then alternate again. This type of breathing technique helps encourage balance on the right and left sides of your mind and body.

We are so excited about the benefits breathwork is providing our clients along their wellness journeys. Reach out to us at Holistic Annex if you’d like to learn more about breathwork techniques and how incorporating them into your wellness journey can benefit you!