The Forgotten Healer: The Breath

In the fast-paced world we live in, it's easy to overlook one of the most powerful tools we have for healing: the breath. As a holistic guide, I’ve seen how transformative breathwork can be in helping clients release stored emotions and restore balance to their minds and bodies. Breathwork is the conscious practice of controlling and deepening the breath to create shifts in emotional, mental, and physical states. It’s a simple yet profound practice that allows us to tap into the body’s natural ability to heal.

Breathwork isn’t just about relaxation; it’s about releasing what’s held within. Our breath is intimately connected to our nervous system and emotions. When we experience stress, trauma, or emotional pain, our bodies tend to store these experiences as tension, often causing shallow breathing or holding patterns. Through focused breathwork, we can begin to access and release these deep-seated emotions, allowing energy to flow more freely and promoting a sense of relief and calm.

Emotion is energy in motion, and when we don’t process feelings, they can become trapped in the body. Breathwork helps to release these blockages by creating space for the body to feel and let go. As the breath deepens and opens, it can bring up emotions that have been repressed or stuck, offering an opportunity for healing. Many people report feeling lighter, more centered, and emotionally clear after just one session of intentional breathwork.

On a physiological level, breathwork works by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body’s “rest and digest” response. When we engage in conscious breathing, we send a signal to the brain that it’s safe to relax. This relaxation helps to lower stress hormones, slow the heart rate, and create a deeper sense of calm. The power of breath can go even further, helping to clear out accumulated emotional energy, which often gets trapped in the body during stressful or traumatic experiences. This process allows for a more authentic emotional release and supports long-term emotional well-being.

Breathwork also serves as a bridge between the mind and body, helping us to be more present in the moment. As we practice breath awareness, we cultivate mindfulness and reconnect with the present, which can often be lost in the busyness of daily life. This practice is not only a tool for emotional healing but also for deepening self-awareness and promoting spiritual growth. Whether you’re seeking stress relief, emotional release, or a deeper connection to yourself, the breath is a powerful, accessible healer that we all have within us.

Breathwork Techniques to Try

Here are five different breathwork techniques that you can incorporate into your wellness practice:

1. Box Breathing (4-4-4-4)
   Box breathing, also known as four-square breathing, involves inhaling for four counts, holding the breath for four counts, exhaling for four counts, and holding again for four counts. This method is excellent for calming the nervous system and reducing stress. It brings focus to the breath, creating a rhythm that stabilizes both the body and mind.

2. Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing)
   Diaphragmatic breathing encourages deep breathing into the belly, rather than shallow breaths into the chest. This type of breath engages the diaphragm and allows for a full expansion of the lungs. By doing so, it promotes relaxation and helps release physical tension, making it a powerful tool for managing anxiety and improving emotional resilience.

3. Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)
   Alternate nostril breathing is a yogic technique that balances the two hemispheres of the brain and the energy channels within the body. By alternately closing one nostril while breathing in and out through the other, this technique helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and improve focus. It’s particularly useful for grounding yourself and finding inner balance.

4. Holotropic Breathwork
   Holotropic breathwork involves continuous, deep, and fast breathing without a pause between inhalations and exhalations. It’s often used in therapeutic settings to help release suppressed emotions and access altered states of consciousness. This powerful technique can lead to emotional breakthroughs and deep healing, but it's best practiced under the guidance of a trained facilitator.

5. Lion’s Breath (Simhasana)
   Lion’s breath is a playful, energizing technique where you take a deep inhale through your nose and, on the exhale, open your mouth wide, stick out your tongue, and roar the breath out. This breath helps release pent-up tension, frustration, and stress, providing a way to expel negative energy and revitalize the body. It’s also great for loosening the muscles in your face and jaw.

By incorporating these breathwork techniques into your daily routine, you can unlock the healing potential of the breath and experience greater emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Some breathwork forms that I do with client’s can bring emotions to the surface, cause you to recall memories, and be more activating within the body. The breath can be a powerful healer to show you aspects of yourself you have been suppressing. Each technique offers something unique, some simple and others intensifying, helping you to reconnect with your body and restore balance. Remember, the breath is always with you — a forgotten healer, ready to support your journey toward wellness.