Breath work - Introduction
Hi Guys, Continuing with our Air series today, and looking at Breathwork. Or rather, starting to. How often have you been told to take a deep breath to calm down? When I know people are struggling, my advice is always 'breathe'. Do you take a deep breath before taking a plunge into water or making a big decision, maybe? It is a crucial part of Mindfulness and most meditation practices. I know that my meditations usually have the words 'take three long, slow, deep breaths' near the beginning There is a science behind it. It is a good way to manage stress, and calms your parasympathetic nervous system. Controlled breathing helps to control heart rate and blood pressure among other things. It helps while anxious and helps alleviate depression when used long term. It can help with pain control - pregnant people are taught how to breathe through the contractions, for example. Being asthmatic, I was taught deep breathing exercises as a child to help expand my lung capacity...