The Importance of Breathwork

“Without breath, we are nothing” – Wim Hof

Breathwork is a technique which focuses on breathing in a conscious and systematic way, and is performed to improve mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Whether it is for a competitive advantage in fitness, the management of stress levels or a way of reconnecting spiritually, many people find that breathwork promotes deep relaxation or leaves them feeling energized.

Breathwork has been credited with helping to increase people’s self-awareness, boost immunity, motivate self-development, process emotions, reduce stress and anxiety levels, and overcome addictions. It has also been said to help improve anger issues, anxiety, chronic pain, depression, trauma and PTSD.

Our trainer Jay from PCYC Gold Coast recommends three common types of breathwork that you can try at home:

Holotropic Breathwork

This involves controlling and quickening breathing patterns to influence your mental, emotional, and physical states.

With the eyes closed and lying on a mat, each person uses their own breath and the music in the room to enter a non-ordinary state of consciousness. This state activates the natural inner healing process of the individual’s psyche, bringing the seeker a particular set of internal experiences.

The goal is for Holotropic breathwork to be a catalyst for bringing to the surface the most important issues a person needs to address. Each person’s experience with Holotropic breathwork is unique, self-directed, and unfolds on its own as the practice progresses.

Box Breathing

Also known as square breathing or 4-4-4-4 breathing, this is a technique that helps to focus on taking slow, deep breaths. It’s regularly used by people in high-stress environments due to its ability to turn off a person’s fight-or-flight mode. Using this exercise is seen as a great method of relaxation and allows you to feel calm and regulate your autonomic nervous system.

Rebirthing Breathwork

This is a spiritual therapeutic technique that promotes joy and peace. It’s often used to access the unconscious mind to access people’s deepest thoughts and desires, help them heal from traumatic experiences, or help uncover unconscious negative memories. The goal of a Rebirthing Breathwork session is to help you build emotional strength and move forward with your life.

Breathwork is a great way to realign your vibrational energy. Slow controlled breathing can calm your heart rate and stimulate areas of the brain that influence comfort, relaxation and emotional control.