Consciousness & BREATHWORK

Hello beautiful Self-Care Goddesses,

Did you know that 25-50% of us are mouth breathers? So why should we avoid mouth breathing?

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People that practice gratitude consistently report a host of psychological benefits including: higher levels of positive emotions, more alert, alive, and awake, more joy and pleasure, more optimism and happiness.

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Can Breathwork Alter Consciousness?

Breathwork has been used by many people for thousands of years. These include spiritual techniques like Kundalini Yoga or newer rediscovered variations such as holotropic breathing techniques, consciousness-connected breathing techniques or rebirthing.

Although they have different settings and characteristics, they all have a common core principle: They intensify the breath through long and deep inhalation and rapid relaxed exhalation.

Crucial to all effective breathing techniques is that inhalation and exhalation are linked. Conscious breathing increases neuronal activity, which helps to process trauma, anxiety or depression.

I invite you to join the monthly online New Moon Breathwork Experience. Purchase your online tickets here.

When we inhale, our heart rate goes up a little. When we exhale, our heart rate goes down a little. This is a very simple explanation on what happens to us physiologically with every breath we take.

*you can test this out on yourself just for fun. Close your eyes for just a few breaths and start to feel your heart — notice if you feel it change with your breath.

As we breathe in our heart rate goes up a little as our diaphragm drops and our heart contracts. This sends an incredibly speedy message up to the brain that then sends an incredibly speedy message back to the heart that says, ‘you must speed up’ so it does. Then as we breathe out the reverse is true. The diaphragm lifts and the heart opens. This sends an incredibly speedy message up to the brain that then sends an incredibly speedy message back to the heart that says, ‘you must slow down’ so it does.

This communication is all done at a rapid speed via the pathways of nerves that run from the brain to the heart and then spread throughout the body via our nervous system. Whatever messages are sent thereafter create the thoughts we think, the emotions we feel, and the behaviours we act out.

Check out the Self-Care Goddess Podcast “Create The Life You Want: Tips On How To Do It” episode #83 today.

Could every thought, every emotion and every behaviour be directly linked to our breath?

If yes, we can change these messages whenever we need to with our breath alone!

In speeding up or slowing down the rhythm of our breath we can tap into the different parts of the nervous system, thus altering our state of being. Conscious breathing offers a number of benefits, but one of the most impressive is its ability to relax your nervous system. You’ve likely noticed how your breath gets more shallow when you are stressed or panicking, which can even cause hyperventilation. This is the result of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activating your body’s fight-or-flight response. 

Although this response can help us survive in times of danger, it can be detrimental to our health when prolonged, especially when there is no physical danger. Getting stuck in a state of fight or flight can lead to anxiety and depression or physical illness. 

That’s why it’s crucial to take the time to pay attention to your breath, especially in times of stress. Doing so calms down your nervous system, allowing the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) to regain control and activate normal processes in your body. As a result, you experience less anxiety and have more control over your emotions. These healthy processes are only possible when your brain feels you are safe to rest and digest, clear of any danger. 

I invite you to watch my YouTube video titled “Breath of Fire: Ignite the Fire in You”

Conscious breathing is a great way to prepare for meditation. It helps you be more aware of the present moment, putting you into the right frame of mind for your practice. The relaxation it induces also makes it easier to slip into a meditative state. Of course, you don’t have to limit conscious breathing to a certain moment. You can practice it whenever you feel the need to relax, such as before bed. Tack it on to the end of your meditation and let it serve as a transition. Another option is to use yogic breathing while stretching or center yourself before your yoga practice. That’s the great thing about conscious breathing — it’s a very flexible form of self-care! 

I am a certified Breathwork Facilitator. Connect With Me to know more on the amazing power of breathwork and learn some breathwork techniques than can help you better manage yourself.

References:

https://www.esanum.com/today/posts/can-breathwork-alter-consciousness