Breathwork for Relaxation
Breathing well is essential to our health & wellbeing. Using the principles of yoga pranayama we will use simple and accessible breathing techniques to activate our parasympathetic (rest & digest) nervous system to evoke a sense of calm as we slow down into deep relaxation.
Resonant Breathing
Breathing in this gentle, slow and circular method is a very effective exercise for the baroreflex while providing benefits for your respiratory system, nervous system, brain, and heart.
When a person breathes at their resonance frequency their respiratory system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system synchronise together and function more efficiently.
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Sit in stillness and take a deep, full, inhale - then exhale and empty your lungs
Breathe through your nose if you are comfortable to do so.
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Take another deep inhale and when you exhale, relax your shoulders, jaw and tongue.
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Soften your gaze.
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Now inhale for a count of 5 or 6 seconds (use a clock if you want to be precise) and exhale slowly for a count of 5 or 6 seconds. That’s one breath.
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Continue with slow, 5 or 6 second inhales and exhales, until you have completed 6 breaths and around a minute of slow breathing overall.
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Breathe slowly for 5 or 6 minutes.
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Before you continue with your day, perhaps roll your shoulders or stretch a little.
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Allow your breathing to return to a more normal everyday rhythm.
