What is Breathwork?
Breathwork refers to many types of breathing exercises or techniques.
It utilized to help with mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
It is thought to bring about improvements in emotional state and to decrease levels of stress and may:
* aid positive self-development
* boost immunity
* process emotions, heal emotional pain and trauma
* develop or increase self-awareness
* enrich creativity
* improve personal and professional relationships
* increase confidence, self-image, and self-esteem
* increase joy and happiness
* overcome addictions
* reduce stress and anxiety levels
* release negative thoughts
* resolve anger issues
* help relieve anxiety
* lessen chronic pain
* resolve depression
* process emotional effects of illness, grief, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The many forms of breathwork involve breathing in a specific format.
One such way is referred to as conscious connected breathing or circular breathing in which the breathing is circular, it does not have a pause. One breathes in and out in a flow, where the breath in and out connect without pause. Breathwork is also referred to as rebirthing. (not to be confused with cathartic experiential techniques) In Breathwork Rebirthing or Liberation Breathing (Sondra Ray), clients may participate in or out of water. (The water is a simulation of the physical experience in the womb). Rebirthing breathwork consists of breathing through the mouth or nose in a circular fashion with fairly deep breaths in and a relaxed exhale repeated over and over. This is maintained for the duration of the active part of the session which can last for 15 minutes to several hours, the most typical being about one hour in total, from start finish. These sessions are comprised of the active breathing phase followed by an integration time at the end. Guided by the facilitator, breathwork sessions may include spoken word, affirmations, mantra, music and or sound to help the process along. Breathwork can promote deep relaxation or can energize.
In general, the goal of any breathwork therapy or process is to support people to achieve a greater sense of self-awareness and capacity for self-healing. It also helps people improve mental, physical, and spiritual well-being.
These are a few examples of short breathwork exercises that can be powerful and self-monitored and provide many of the same great benefits as noted above: * Box breathing * Diaphragmatic breathing * Pursed lip breathing * Extended exhale breathing * Sitali pranayama or alternate nostril breath
*Breath of fire
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