The Power of Breath Work: How it Can Help You Combat Stress and Anxiety

Breathing is a fundamental aspect of our being. It not only keeps us alive but also influences our overall well-being. The way we breathe matters, and breath work can significantly affect our nervous system and the body as a whole.

In the past, when humans faced danger, the brain would signal the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to take action. The SNS response would trigger a "fight or flight" reaction to help us escape from danger. Today, even though we're no longer under the same level of threat, our brain still sends the same signal when we encounter challenging situations, such as a child's tantrum, an upsetting email or a fight with your partner. We often find ourselves living in a state of stress characterised by shallow breathing, tense shoulders, high blood pressure, and even stomach pain.

With the fast-paced life we live today, our brains are constantly receiving stress signals, and we frequently find ourselves living in the SNS. This is where breath work comes in to help counteract the stress response and send a signal to our bodies that we are safe.

There are various ways to achieve this, including movement, meditation, being in nature, and breath work. By practising deep breathing, we can manually switch our system from the SNS to the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), also known as the "rest-and-digest" mode. In essence, this helps us move from a state of stress to a state of calm.

The power of breath work is such that it can help reverse the fight-or-flight response and promote relaxation. A deep sigh or exhalation can release tension and change the biochemistry in our brain, leading to a sense of relief.

In conclusion, understanding and utilising the power of breath work can help us combat stress and anxiety and promote a sense of calm and well-being.