Improve your Health with Breath

Breath. Such a basic thing. It’s absolutely necessary to life, but yet how often do we think about it? It fluctuates throughout our days and we barely give it a second thought. Let's look at some ways our breath improves our health - including some techniques you can use today.

Deep breathing can reduce anxiety...

Implementing a deep breathing technique when anxiety strikes can make the difference between a full on attack and an unwelcome glitch in your day. Deep breathing lowers your heart rate, improves circulation and promotes clearer thinking.

You can use your breath to calm down...

Let’s face it, when tempers rise it seems almost impossible to think about anything other than the current situation that set you off. A re-set is imperative and practicing simple breathing techniques can encourage calmness and help reverse the physical symptoms of anger.

~GUIDE for calming anxiety~

Isolate yourself from everyone for 15 minutes,

Inhale slowly for the count of 4,

Exhale slowly for the count of 8,

Notice the space in between the inhalation and exhalation,

Repeat until you begin to calm down.

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Take breathing even deeper with pranayama... 

Pranayama is the practice of using the breath to soothe an active mind. If practiced right, pranayama can bring harmony between mind, body + spirit. It boosts your ability to be mentally and spiritually strong. There are very specific breathwork techniques that are outside the scope of this article, but reading up is recommended and finding a good teacher to further your practice.

Use with meditation...

Breathwork is an necessary addition to your mindfulness + meditation practice. It can allow us to open our hearts and our minds. It has been said that it can move stuck energy as well. 

~GUIDE for Pranayama + Meditation~

Quiet your body and mind,

Observe your breath as it is,

Slow your breathing to a calm steady level,

Concentrate on the air that moves in and out of your lungs,

Focus on how your body feels and moves as you inhale and exhale.

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Much like massage, there is no doubt that breathing can encourage relaxation and healthy habits. It keeps the body + mind functioning and lessens stress. Your muscles naturally relax and you can go about your day a little easier with resilience.

Breathing may seem insignificant. It happens naturally, so we may not think about breathing all that much,

...but perhaps it’s time we should.

#breath #health #massage #meditation #pranayama #calm #selfcare #studioharborashi #carlaweiskopflmt