(Image credit: Getty Images) Breathing exercises can help ease anxiety, regulate your nervous system and promote relaxation and calm, so why do so many of us avoid breathwork, then?
I recently added three simple breathing exercises into my morning or nighttime routine to see if they could boost mental strength , improve mood and mental clarity, or help me sleep better. To be honest, I’d happily jump on any of these benefits if breathwork could help.
And the best news is, anyone can do them. I spent a few minutes in the morning, evening, or both, working through these breathing exercises for beginners, then logged my feelings after each session and continued to track my sleep and stress levels using my Oura Ring . Here’s what I learned, and how to do the exercises yourself. What is breathwork?
Breathwork is trending , according to Garmin’s Fitness Report. And finally. According to the Cleveland Clinic , “breathwork” can be described as intentionally channeling and focusing your breath with techniques to “calm the body and mind.”
Breathwork for beginners is widely accessible these days, and even influential celebs like Chris Hemsworth use breathing techniques as part of a well-rounded health and fitness routine.
And no, you don’t have to meditate, sit in a dark room alone with your thoughts, or employ a regular yoga practice to try it — everyone can benefit from breathwork. What does breathwork do?
(Image credit: Getty Images) To understand why you’re doing it, think of your autonomic nervous system as two strands: the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight mode) and the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and recover).
When presented with a dangerous situation, the sympathetic nervous system activates, which controls hormone responses like cortisol and adrenaline. It’s a built-in system to help us tackle danger effectively.
However, the body can’t differentiate between actual and perceived danger, meaning a stressful day at work can activate your fight-or-flight response like a lion chasing you would. On the flip side, when the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, the body can relax, recover and repair — it’s the happy place.Sadly, due to our “go, go, go” lifestyles, […]
3 breathing exercises for beginners to build mental strength, boost mood and strengthen your core
