Why Breathwork?

Breathwork is a practice that involves intentionally controlling and manipulating your breath for various purposes. There are several reasons why you may want to practice breathwork, and the benefits can vary depending on the specific techniques used.

I will break it down here and explain the differences Functional breathwork, Regenerative Breathwork & Transformational Breathwork.

But first some science around breathing. 

We should be taking around 23,000 breaths a day but most of us take way more than that.

We have become a nation of chronically stressed over breathers. 

We breathe shallow into the chest and too fast. 

We breathe off too much CO2 but we need CO2 to help the O2 be absorbed into our cells.

This is called the Bohr Effect

Our sedentary, busy, over stimulated lives have influenced how we breathe.

How do you know if you are overbreathing?

• Mouth breathing

• Snoring or sleep apnea

• Loud breathing

• Upper chest breathing

Some side effects…

• Anxiety & stress

• Asthma

• Fatigue

• Digestive problems

• Heart problems

• Weight gain

  How we breathe affects every aspect of our health!

Functional Breathing

1. Efficient Breathing: Functional breathwork emphasizes efficient and natural breathing patterns. This means breathing through the nose, using the diaphragm, and avoiding shallow chest breathing, which can lead to chronic over-breathing.

2. Mindful Awareness: Practitioners of functional breathwork often incorporate mindfulness techniques to become more aware of their breath. This awareness can help identify and address dysfunctional breathing habits.

3. Stress Reduction: Functional breathwork aims to reduce stress by promoting relaxation through slow, deep breaths. Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing can activate the body's parasympathetic nervous system, counteracting the stress response.

4. Improved Oxygenation: Functional breathwork may focus on optimizsng oxygen intake and exchange in the body, which can lead to increased energy levels and enhanced physical performance.

5. Posture and Alignment: Proper posture and body alignment are crucial for efficient breathing. Functional breathwork often includes exercises to improve posture, as good posture facilitates optimal breathing mechanics.

6. Breath Awareness in Daily Life: The principles of functional breathwork can be applied throughout the day, not just during dedicated practice sessions. Learn to maintain better breathing habits in everyday life situations.

7. Emotional Regulation: Functional breathwork can assist in emotional regulation by teaching individuals how to use their breath to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional responses.

8. Athletic and Performance Enhancement: Some athletes and performers use functional breathwork techniques to improve their performance, endurance, and recovery.

9. Sleep Improvement: Certain functional breathwork practices can aid in relaxation before bedtime, potentially improving sleep quality.