Harnessing the Power of Your Breath: Techniques for Mind, Body, and Spirit
Your Breath is the Central Key to Life and Energy
Breathing is the link between body and mind, between spirit and matter, between the conscious and the subconscious mind. It is the only system in the body that is both completely automatic and also under our control. The breath is a force, a bridge, a tool. It connects us to each other, and to our own nature, our source.
When we mindfully and consciously take part in our breath we are doing ‘breathwork’. This is a rare opportunity to take part in our own evolution!
During breathwork you intentionally change your breathing pattern. So breathwork refers to any type of breathing exercises or techniques and yet they all involve breathing in a conscious and systematic way.
For many, breathwork promotes deep relaxation and/or creates a feeling of calm and steady energy. Overall, breathwork helps to bring about improvements in emotional state and to decrease levels of stress in otherwise healthy people.
People have practiced breathwork to:
aid positive self-development
boost immunity
process emotions, heal emotional pain and trauma
develop life skills
develop or increase self-awareness
enrich creativity
improve personal and professional relationships
increase confidence, self-image, and self-esteem
increase joy and happiness
overcome addictions
reduce stress and anxiety levels
release negative thoughts
Breathwork is used to help to improve a wide range of issues including:
anger issues
anxiety
chronic pain
depression
emotional effects of illness
grief
trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Breathwork Pactices
There are several breathwork approaches. You may want to try out a few different techniques over time to see which type most resonates with you and brings about the best results.
Every psychological state, every emotional state, every physiological state has a corresponding or associated breathing pattern. The way we breathe when we are peaceful and calm is different from the way we breathe when we are angry and upset.
When your state changes, your breathing pattern changes. The beautiful thing is that it's a two-way street: when you change your breathing pattern, you change your state! We can use the breath to tap into our nervous system, our brain, our immune system.
Ultimately when we control our breathing, we control our awareness, our focus and our energy. Breathing is a behavior. Breath control is self control. Breath awareness is self awareness. When the breath flows fully and freely our natural creative and healing energies flow fully and freely.
How to prepare for a Breathwork session:
Dress in comfortable clothes. Think yoga or cozy workout clothes.
Eat light and avoid heavy meals 2 hours prior.
Bring water & a journal.
Turn off all your electronic devices.
Bring an open heart and an open mind.
What a Breathwork Session Entails:
Discovery: Getting to know you on a deep level and what you hope to get out of a Breathwork practice! What are your goals?
Assessment: We will assess your current breathing patterns and establish a baseline for growth.
Discussion/Intention Setting: We will discuss your goals and intentions for the session. Please bring an open heart and mind.
Breathe: - The Breathwork practitioner will guide you through a breathwork session designed specifically for you and your needs based on our joint discovery and assessment.
Practical Tools & Resources: You’ll walk away with a toolbox of breathwork techniques & suggested reading. You will be empowered to begin your breathwork journey with tools that you can immediately implement into your life now.
Integration: Time for sharing and integrating your experience. Please bring a journal.
If you’re ready to experience the power of breath firsthand, check out our yoga classes or try a sauna and cold plunge session. Both are amazing ways to connect deeper with your breath, whether you're looking to calm your mind or recharge your body.