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Benefits of Breathing and Breathwork

Health and Well-being

There are a significant number of health concerns in which dysfunctional breathing is common. After this is corrected, focused strategies and methods can be emphasized to support overall health and well-being. Improving autonomic nervous system balance and efficiency is a key to the process. Once this is established, conscious and mindful breathing strategies are integrated into lifestyle foundations.  These skills can facilitate healthy sleep, eating, and exercise practices to reinforce the breathing effects. In addition to supporting immunity and reducing inflammation, mind-body training of this nature provides complementary care in the following health conditions.

Physical Conditions

  • Asthma

  • Adrenal fatigue

  • Blood sugar regulation

  • Chronic pain

  • Chronic stress

  • Fatigue

  • Headache

  • High blood pressure/cardiovascular risk

  • Irritable bowel syndrome / SIBO

  • PMS

  • Raynaud’s disease

Emotional Resilience

Emotional resilience is a person's ability to respond in an adaptive way to challenging, stressful, or crises situations.  Because the mind and body are integrated, dysfunctional breathing perpetuates stress and has a negative impact on our mental and emotional state.  Breathing practices to harmonize autonomic function, lower baseline arousal, increase CO2 tolerance, and increase emotional awareness are essential. After rewiring the body-breath-brain connections in this manner, breath-hold practices can be considered to build distress tolerance and mental toughness.  Conditions that may benefit from this training are noted on the right.  In some cases, specific breathing techniques for distinct conditions have been identified and will be introduced when appropriate.                                  


Mental and Emotional Conditions

  • Addictions

  • Anxiety

  • Asthma

  • ADD/ADHD

  • Chronic insomnia

  • Chronic pain

  • Depression

  • Hyperactivity

  • insomnia

  • Panic attacks

  • PTSD

  • Stress Reduction 

Optimal Performance

Optimal performance in sports and athletics requires peak physical and mental function.  Often times this inhibited by dysfunctional breathing patterns, even in high level performers.  A variety of conscious breathing methods are used to maximize respiratory efficiency, balance autonomic function, increase distress tolerance during challenge, and reduce emotional reactive-arousal.  These effects are enhanced through mindful breathing that supports emotional regulation, the ability to be present in the moment, and general self-awareness.                   

Practical Benefits

  • Ability to achieve Flow-state

  • Breathing awareness and control under physical demand 

  • Calmness under pressure

  • Enhance focus and concentration

  • Improved attention shifting ability

  • Mental toughness 

  • Non-judgmental acceptance of internal and external experiences 

  • Reduced stress and anxiety 

Reichian Breathwork

Reichian Breathwork is a dive into a deep, experiential aspect of breathwork.  It provides an opportunity for a unique individual transformative experience.  Although the other areas of interest delve into self-inquiry and self-awareness through the breath and body, they does so primarily building on the facets that emphasize general adaptive processes.  Reichian work is a departure from that trajectory. 

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Dr. Wilhelm Reich, the father of body- based psychotherapy, developed his approach based on a simple observation. As a psychiatrist, he noted that his patients, in general, had impediments to breathing along with emotional dysfunction. He observed that in any particular moment, our emotional and physical state is reflected in our breathing.  His discoveries have been verified through research, particularly into the nature of trauma.  It is generally recognized that "the body keeps the score", so to speak.  

Continued

The focus of Reichian work is the un-doing of the emotion-body responses that have been conditioned over time.  These patterns are sometimes referred to as emotional, character, or body "armor." With a variety of precise and distinct conscious breathing  techniques, these patterns can be unwound and released. Generally speaking, breathing is used to generate self-awareness, "re-move" restrictions or inhibitions in the physical body, and access associated emotional terrain.  


Gradually, over time, we regain the ability to experience and express emotions, free from subconscious conditioning. This leads to healthy emotional sensitivity which reflects awareness, understanding, and appreciation of diverse experiences.  While you may experience emotional release during sessions, it is not the purpose, nor is it necessary to affect deep change.  The goal is self-growth, generally presenting as emotional ease, clearer sense of self, and increased vitality.                 


   

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