Master Your Mind With BREATHWORK
Hello Wellness Seeker,
✨✨ Join me for an upcoming breathwork session, where we’ll dive into the transformative benefits of pranayama and cultivate inner balance together. Follow me on Instagram & Facebook for all the latest details and updates.
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Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, helping us see the richness in our everyday moments and nurturing a mindset that attracts even more positivity and peace.
🙏🏽 Gratitude Practice 🙏🏽
At the start of each day, take five minutes to list three things you’re grateful for—big or small. Keep this list in a journal, adding to it daily. At the end of each month, read through the entries to appreciate all the positive moments that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. This simple ritual cultivates a habit of gratitude, helping you focus on the abundance around you.
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✨ I see the power in functional breathing and how it impacts every single system in our body. ✨
It doesn’t really matter what or how you eat; if you’re not breathing properly, you’re not optimizing your cells, tissues, muscles, organs, and the systems they form.
Breathwork isn’t just a modern wellness trend—it’s a proven practice that has been transforming lives for decades. Since the late 70s and early 80s, simple techniques like abdominal breathing, supported by biofeedback, have shown incredible results – People learned to slow their breath and prevent panic with just one or two sessions.
Your breath reflects your mind’s state. If you can control your breath, you can control your peace—no one can take that away. Simple techniques become part of you, ready to help you stay calm and focused, no matter what triggers you.
And the best part?
These tools are always available, right at your nose tip. 🌬️
👉 Embrace the power of breathwork today! 👈
I invite you to join the monthly online Full Moon Breathwork Experience. Purchase your online tickets here.
Functional breathing is one of the simplest, yet most impactful practices we can adopt for our overall health and well-being. Although breathwork may appear to be a recent trend in wellness circles, its roots are deep, extending back to the 1970s and 1980s when researchers first recognized its capacity to transform both mental and physical health. This post explores the science behind functional breathing, highlighting how our breath connects to every system in the body, optimizing our cells, tissues, and organs for peak performance.
1. Understanding Functional Breathing and Its Holistic Benefits
Functional breathing involves intentional, controlled breathing practices designed to optimize our body’s physiological functions. Unlike passive, unconscious breathing, functional breathing techniques emphasize the importance of using the diaphragm, slowing down the breath, and taking full, abdominal breaths. Research has shown that adopting such techniques impacts every bodily system, including cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and nervous system sheathing Trumps Diet in Cellular Health.
While nutrition is fundamental for cellular health, the oxygen delivered through proper breathing is equally critical. Oxygen is the fuel for our cells, and without it, nutrients cannot be effectively utilized. Even if we eat a balanced diet, improper breathing can limit our cells’ ability to access oxygen and energy efficiently. When we breathe improperly—taking shallow breaths from our chest rather than deep, diaphragmatic breaths—our cells are undernourished, tissues are under-oxygenated, and organ functions may decline. Proper breathing ensures that the cells receive a steady oxygen supply, optimizing cellular function and energy production .
I invite you to listen to the insightful episode on the Self-Care Goddess Podcast “Believe in Change: How MINDSET Shift Can Unlock Your True Potential “.
3. Breaf the Mind
The connection between our breath and mental state is profound. When we’re anxious, stressed, or panicked, our breathing becomes rapid and shallow. This response is the body’s way of preparing us for a perceived threat, known as the fight-or-flight response. Conversely, slow, deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, signaling to the body that it’s safe and can relax. Studies indicate that breath-focused practices can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and increase focus, as they enable individuals to modulate their response to stress and external triggers .
4. Breathwork’s Role in PEnhancing Resilience
One of the most transformative aspects of functional breathing is its ability to prevent panic and promote resilience. Early biofeedback studies in the 70s and 80s showed that individuals could lower their stress responses by controlling their breath. Through as little as one or two sessions, participants learned to manage their anxiety by slowing down their breathing. Techniques like box breathing and 4-7-8 breathing train the body to remain calm in high-stress situations, as controlled breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, activating the body’s relaxation response .
5. Always Accessible: The Convenience of Breathwork doesn’t require any equipment or a designated space. It’s an internal tool, available at the “tip of your nose” anytime you need it. This accessibility makes it incredibly powerful, as anyone can incorporate breathing exercises into their daily routine, no matter where they are. Just a few minutes of intentional breathing can help regain balance during moments of stress, reduce anxiety before a big presentation, or relax before bedtime.
I invite you to watch my YouTube video titled “Alternate Nostril Breathing For Anti-Anxiety & Calming Effects”
6. Getting Started with Functional Breathing
Embracing funsn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few simple techniques to try:
- Diaphragmatic Breathing: Place one hand on your chest and the other on your belly. Breathe deeply so that your belly rises with each inhale and falls with each exhale, while your chest remains relatively still.
- Box Breathing: Inhale for a count of four, hold the breath for four, exhale for four, and hold for four again. This pattern helps maintain a steady breathing rhythm, calming the nervous system.
- 4-7-8 Breathing: Inhale for four seconds, hold the breath for seven, and exhale slowly for eight. This technique is excellent for relaxation and stress reduction.
Functional breathing is more than a wellness trend; it’s a science-backed practice that has stood the test of time. By improving our breathing patterns, we can positively impact every system in the body, promoting cellular health, calming the mind, and boosting resilience. In a world where stress and distractions are constant, functional breathing offers a tool to stay grounded, focused, and at peace.
So take a deep breath, embrace the power of functional breathing, and unlock the potential that lies within.
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.
Reference List:
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- Brown, R. P., & Gerbarg, P. L. (2005). Sudarshan Kriya yogic breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression: Part I—neurophysiologic model. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 11(1), 189-201.
- Courtney, R. (2009). The functions of breathing and its dysfunctions and their relationship to breathing therapy. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 12(3), 78-85.
- Bordoni, B., & Morabito, B. (2020). Anatomic connections of the diaphragm: Influence of respiration on the body system. Cureus, 12(3), e7351.
- Lehrer, P. M., & Gevirtz, R. (2014). Heart rate variability biofeedback: How and why does it work? Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 756.
- Zaccaro, A., Piarulli, A., Laurino, M., et al. (2018). How breath-control can change your life: A systematic review on psychophysiological correlates of slow breathing. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, 353.
- Ley, R. (1999). The modification of breathing behavior: Pavlovian and operant control in emotion and cognition. Behavior Modification, 23(3), 441-479.
- Dhand, R., & Sohal, H. (2020). Good sleep and slow deep breathing: An intensive update. Breathe, 16(4), 200247.
- Bloch-Salisbury, E., Liao, S., Auré, K., et al. (2000). Effect of heat and moisture on respiratory events in infants during sleep. Pediatric Research, 48(1), 68-73.
- Russo, M. A., Santarelli, D. M., & O’Rourke, D. (2017). The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human. Breathe, 13(4), 298-309.