What is breathwork? Prescription for better health.

Breathing is the basic building block that makes a healthy human.

This is perfectly captured in the summary of James Nestor’s excellent book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art: 

“No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or wise you are, none of it matters if you're not breathing properly. There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being than breathing.”

What is breathwork?

So much is out of our control, and whilst our breathing is mostly happening unconsciously, outside of our awareness, we can also choose to take voluntary control over the breath at any moment.

Breathwork is the effort it takes to bring greater awareness to our breathing.

We can use conscious breathing to change how we think, feel, and act.

Breathing better is the gateway to sustainable, long-term wellness. This isn’t about special creams or supplements or green juices. This is about a simple and effective tool we can use every day to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. This is why the Shift was created.

The 4 pillars of health should be 5.

The four traditional pillars of health are:

1. Exercise
2. Nutrition
3. Relaxation
4. Sleep. 

Breath is often overlooked.

But as we are learning, how we breathe not only has an impact on each of these aspects of our lives, but can also improve many health conditions which are usually treated with prescription drugs or other medical interventions.

What if we prescribed better breathing first?

Breathing better is a simple alternative. It is a great place to start when we begin to feel uncomfortable, sick, flat, disconnected, down, or simply off.

Why is breathing the 5th pillar of health?

For starters, it should probably be the first. And here’s why:

1. Breathing helps us maintain homeostasis and balance.
2. It has an impact on almost every system in our body. 
3. Breathing is the bridge between body and mind.
4. Breathing regulates the nervous system and our emotions.
5. Breathing better is an easy to start doing right now.

Our bodies are constantly seeking balance, but we live in a culture which makes it very challenging to maintain that balance. 

See how it works: the science behind better breathing.

Start Today: How to feel better with Coherent Breathing.

Over time, we have developed dysfunctional breathing patterns as a result of chronic stress, bad posture, muscle tension and repressed emotions. 

This leads to physical, mental, and emotional issues, and also has a significant impact on our overall energy levels.

Coherent breathing is a simple and effective technique you can do today. 

 

Coherent Breathing in 3 easy steps.

• Inhale into your belly for a count of 5.
• Exhale for a count of 5.
• Repeat for 5 minutes (or as long as you have, every bit helps).

Your daily habits can help you breathe better.

The best way to make a routine out of better breathing is by attaching it to another daily routine you already do. 

We find the Shift to be an effective breathing tool that can help you incorporate your breathing into a routine.

Try pairing breathing better with these daily routines you already have:

• Breathe while you wait for your morning coffee.
• Breathe while you shower.
• Breathe and brush your teeth.
• Breathe while stuck in traffic on the way to work.
• Breathe as you take a walk break at work.

 

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