Breathwork Benefits
Immunity building, anxiety reducing and overall healing.
Better Immunity.
The body needs energy to work efficiently and breath is energy. If you are constantly in thought, your mind is getting more attention, therefore more energy than your body. Both need equal attention and there needs to be balance between thinking and feeling of health.
Every inhale feeds your 36 trillion cells. Every exhale releases waste from your 36 trillion cells. The more attention you give to the breath, the more energy this cycle is given, (where attention goes, energy flows). Breathing properly means you are fully releasing waste and toxins from your body.
Immunity is also increased as conscious, deep breathing brings you into a relaxed state which is when your immune system is works at it’s best.
A Harvard study from 2005, found breathwork to help boost immune cells (NK cells) which can help combat cancer progressions.
Reduced Anxiety.
When people are too much in thought, it means they are in the past and future constantly which creates a lot of anxiety.
They are not in the present moment.
This is due to the brain being fear based by design. If we are constantly thinking it tends to be naturally negative and anxiety inducing.
The body however is in the present moment, the body knows it belongs to this world, that it is a part of nature.
The breath connects mind to body, helps you to remember you belong to this body. Feeling connected to the body is very important for a person to feel safe and grounded.
Slow conscious breathing activates the parasympathetic system, bringing the body into rest which reduces anxiety. Breathwork’s ability to help with anxiety increases with practise.
Naturally if you are stressed and in fight/flight you will have increased feelings of anxiety which is why it is vital to have tools to help you relax. A 2017 study found reduced levels of cortisol in test group who completed breathwork training compared to the control group.
Insomnia
Breathwork helps sleep it activates the vagus nerve, soothing the whole body which in return calms the mind to enable sleep.
The body and mind are a mirror for each other, calm the body, calm the mind. The body/mind communication is 80-20, body to mind, which is why bottom up practises are effective in creating change.
The most powerful technique for sleep is 4,7,8 method.
Healing Trauma
Research has found symptoms to significantly help reduce symptoms of PTSD.
Very interestingly, war veterans responded very well in trials. Standford research institute in 2013 treated combat veterans with yoga + breathing. It found breathing effected them most positively and reduced symptoms with a year later symptoms had not returned.
Trauma often means a person will disconnect from the body to survive, which makes sense as to why Breathwork supports healing as it connects you back to the body.
Research
Grossman E, Grossman A, Schein MH, Zimlichman R, Gavish B. Breathing-control lowers blood pressure. J Hum Hypertens. 2001 Apr;15(4):263-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.jhh.1001147. PMID: 11319675.
Ma X, Yue ZQ, Gong ZQ, Zhang H, Duan NY, Shi YT, Wei GX, Li YF. The Effect of Diaphragmatic Breathing on Attention, Negative Affect and Stress in Healthy Adults. Front Psychol. 2017 Jun 6;8:874. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00874. PMID: 28626434; PMCID: PMC5455070. 2
Schmalzl L, Powers C, Zanesco AP, Yetz N, Groessl EJ, Saron CD. The effect of movement-focused and breath-focused yoga practice on stress parameters and sustained attention: A randomized controlled pilot study. Conscious Cogn. 2018 Oct;65:109-125. doi: 10.1016/j.concog.2018.07.012. Epub 2018 Aug 9. PMID: 30099318.
Sharma A, Barrett MS, Cucchiara AJ, Gooneratne NS, Thase ME. A Breathing-Based Meditation Intervention for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Following Inadequate Response to Antidepressants: A Randomized Pilot Study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2017 Jan;78(1):e59-e63. doi: 10.4088/JCP.16m10819. PMID: 27898207; PMCID: PMC5272872.
Streeter CC, Gerbarg PL, & Whitfield TH et al; Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder with Iyengar Yoga and Coherent Breathing: A Randomized Controlled Dosing Study
Published Online:1 Mar 2017https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0140
Online articles
Breathwork helps you to relax- https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/relaxation-techniques-breath-control-helps-quell-errant-stress-response
Better Health- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/proper-breathing-brings-better-health/#:~:text=A%20growing%20number%20of%20studies,by%20diverting%20attention%20from%20thoughts)
Breathwork to help pain management-
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100120163704.htm