Take one big inhale that expands in your belly.
Congratulations, you’ve just engaged inbreathwork, an ancient practice that’s quicklygaining popularity.
Does that mean I’ve been practicing breathwork this whole time?"
the answer is, unfortunately, no.
Why breathwork is having a moment.
Many people first got a taste of breathwork on their yoga mat or meditation pillow.
Now, increasing numbers of people are seeking out full-fledged classes on breathing for better health.
According toGoogle Trends, searches for “breathwork” have increased 6-fold over the last five years.
It provides (super-quick) relief from stress.
Conscious breathing could be one of the fastest ways to combatthe stress of everyday life.
Cortisol is responsible for our body’s stress response and high levels of it can cause chronic inflammation.
It trains us to breathe slower and deeper, which can lower blood pressure.
Headspace
3.
It can reduce symptoms of depression when paired with other treatment.
In 2017, researchers took a look at the effects ofIyengar yoga and coherent breathingon depression.
It paves the way for sharper focus.
Having a hard time staying on task?
A 2018 study published in the journalConsciousness and Cognition6found that breath-focused yoga boosted the attention span in participants.
It can help with pain management.
There area number of techniquesthat can help you get started with breathwork.
Vranich recommends trying diaphragmatic breathing, which involves expanding and contracting your belly as you inhale and exhale.
Other approaches to breathwork includebox breathing,4-7-8 breath,2-1-4-1 breath, and alternate-nostril breathing.
Experiment with different options to see which works for you.
Talk about a breath of fresh air.
