What is Breathwork?
Breathwork is a form of therapy that uses different breathing techniques to improve physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Common in mind and body exercises like yoga and tai chi, but also works as a standalone exercise, breathwork can be performed alone or in a group with a certified breathwork therapist facilitating the process.
What are the Different Types of Breathwork?
There are several ways to execute a breathwork therapy, but all of them are grounded in the principle of achieving holistic wellness. Some of the common approaches are as follows:
- Rebirthing Breathwork is a type of breathing technique developed by Leonard Orr to help people suffering from childhood trauma release unresolved thoughts and emotions locked up in their subconscious mind.
- Pranayama is a breathing exercise that is used in yoga to increase self-awareness and the flow of energy. It involves alternate nostril breathing to control and clear the breath.
- Clarity Breathwork assists the body to breathe to its full capacity. It helps release repressed emotions that restrict the flow of energy in the body.
- Holotropic Breathwork is a controlled breathing exercise developed by husband-and-wife tandem Stanislav and Christina Grof in the 70s, to bring the mind, body and spirit into an integrated whole. This type of breathing exercise is often practised in a group setting and accompanied by rhythmic music.
What are the Benefits of Breathwork?
Breathwork is a transformational workout that offers an abundance of benefits, regardless of how it is executed. It promotes self-healing, self-awareness, and it produces instant results which is why it's a popular healing modality practised the world over. Below are some of its other benefits:
- Relieves stress
- Alleviates depression and anxiety
- Sharpens concentration and mental focus
- Reduces pain and headaches
- Strengthens immune system
- Builds self-confidence
- Calms the nervous system
- Clears emotional blockages
- Boosts positive thoughts and feelings
- Fosters healthy relationships
You can receive all these benefits (and even more!) of breathwork from an online session facilitated by a qualified practitioner. Because you don't need any other tools besides your body and air, you can perform breathwork online anytime and from anywhere. All you need is a working computer, or mobile phone, a stable internet connection, and the Zoom videoconferencing application installed on your device.
How Does Online Breathwork Work?
To ensure a successful online breathwork session, find a quiet room in your house that is free of any form of distraction. Breathwork is a sensory experience, and you can only receive its benefits if you put your whole self into the exercise.
Breathwork can be done lying down or in a seated position. Once you've decided on which position to take, close your eyes and listen to the instructions of your breathwork therapist as they guide you to empty your mind and focus on your breathing.
What Can You Expect From a Online Breathwork Therapy?
Practising breathwork online will help reassemble the separate parts of your being. The silence of your room and expert guidance of your preferred breathwork therapist will enable you to connect with your inner self and recharge your mind, body and spirit with life force energy.
A breathwork therapy can run for a few minutes or hours, depending on the technique you choose to work with. Some breathing exercises could take only 10 minutes, while others could last for two or three hours.
