Breathwork

I hope you have enjoyed the week 2 session. Developing your ability to execute the box breath is a great skill.

The inhale holds have all the uplifting energy. You can imagine sending energy to your crown, almost like you are energising your brain. Inhale holds help build motivation, increase focus and attention as well as relieve feelings of brain fog and improve mental clarity.

The exhale holds have all the calming influences. Even thought initially an exhale pause might bring with it a feeling of “fear” or “panic”. Once you get comfortable with the exhale pause you will feel the sense of calm that accompanies the stillness. We can imagine this point as our little “OASIS”.  A place where we feel our self drifting off into a state of calmness. During these pauses we are building our resilience to stress, calming our nervous system and promoting our rest and regeneration system. This is known as our Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

Week 3 we will introduce the energy breath. For this course we be keeping this breath pattern calm and just in groups of 5-10 in a row. This breath is circular and in done through the mouth, not the nose. When we draw in we just open the mouth like we are sucking the breath in through a straw, achieving a smooth full lung volume. We build the breath from the lower zone through the middle zone, finishing in the upper zone. Then the exhale is passive, “letting go” like we are completing a big sigh. It’s important to feel like you are dropping the breath, usually you can let the full inhale go in 1-2 seconds. Think of it like you are cutting the breath loose. Releasing any tension in the body with no effort. This breath is circular, so no pausing, just rolling from in to out, then out to in. After 5 of these energy breaths, you will then feel like you can do an “exhale pause” for a little longer than normal. If you enjoy this feeling, build it to 10 energy breaths in a row, and see how long you can “exhale pause” for.

The music choices have an incredible effect of how you embody the breathwork. This week we are using some classical tunes to help create a different experience. Enjoy week 3.

Remember to email me on how you are doing and to set up a zoom or phone consult if you wish to discuss your progress and any questions.