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When it was first recommended to me that I try breath work, it just seemed too simple to me. I was resistant at first, thinking that surely this couldn’t provide that much dramatic benefit. What I discovered is that these simple, free techniques provide some of the most dramatic support to the body out of anything that can be done, including supplements, foods, and even expensive therapies.
We think so often about food, nutrition, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, antioxidants, flavonoids, phytonutrients, and so forth, that we can get to the point where we can overlook one of the most important elements for our bodies — oxygen. To the degree that oxygen is abundantly available and distributed throughout our body’s tissues, we will experience energetic and vibrant health and longevity. To the degree that oxygen is missing, we will experience health problems, liabilities and complications of the body, combined with sensations of feeling bad.
Many times, there will be parts of the body that become hypoxic and deprived of oxygen. The difference between a cell respirating with or without the presence of oxygen is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration. This makes a quantum difference to the mitochondria in our cells, which are responsible for creating ATP which is the literal energy that runs our body and makes us feel energized. The addition of oxygen allows the cell to produce up to 19 times as much ATP energy as it can without oxygen present.
This is one reason why exercise makes us feel so good, because the intense respiration during exercise forces oxygen in through the lungs and forces oxygenation throughout our system. It is possible though to oxygenate your body without exercise, just as it is possible to exercise without breathing and oxygenating the body completely fully.
Although deep breathing and breath work have been around since the origins of humanity, the benefits of this ancient technology have become more studied, scientifically scrutinized and documented in recent years. This allows us to ‘stand on the shoulders’ of previous generations as they pass us the baton of knowledge for us to grow our expansion and longevity to even new heights.
Breath work can include methods of inhaling, exhaling, focusing the mind, and centering awareness of the body. The amazing power of breath work lies in its simplicity, with the ability to practice these techniques virtually anywhere for free.
Potential benefits of breath work can include:
— Delivery of more oxygen into the bloodstream
— Removal of carbon dioxide from the blood
— Increase of alkalinity of the blood
— Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system
— Increased energy
— Support of immune function
— Improved circulation
— Help with pain management
— Strengthening of lungs
— Enhancement to mood
— Release of toxins by respirating through the lungs
— Improvement of sleep
— Increase of muscle tone by increasing oxygen to the muscles
— Improvement of digestion by increasing blood flow to the intestines
— Help with focus, creativity, self-awareness and performance
— Help to alleviate stress and cortisol in the body
— Help to release old traumas, griefs, and fears
— Quicker recovery from physical stress
— Can create a psychedelic, spiritual or expansive consciousness experience
There are many different methods out there, schools of thought, and approaches to breath work. I am still learning about all of the modalities that are out there and discovering which ones can be most powerful in terms of transforming the body.
I have really resonated with a certain individual whom you could consider a modern pioneer of breath work, a Dutchman who goes by Wim Hof. This person has accomplished feats like climbing Mount Everest in shorts, running a marathon in the desert with no water, sitting in ice for nearly two hours without a change in body temperature, and being injected with a pathogen without his body experiencing an inflammatory immune response. Wim explains that all of this has been accomplished by using a combination of breathing techniques as well as a focus of awareness of his mind and body to control the cardiovascular system, the nervous system and the immune system. Wim Hof has many different deep breathing techniques that you can learn for yourself.
I like to start my day doing one of the methods that Wim Hof recommends. In summary, this is a series of deep inhales, followed by a long exhale and breath hold, followed by a deep breath:
— Sit on a chair upright with your back straight, with your legs shoulder width apart, and your hands palms-down on your thighs.
— Take 30-40 deep breaths in, really expanding the lungs to force air into your chest, back, shoulder, neck and head.
— At the end of this series of breaths, exhale all the way, pushing air out of your whole body and throughout the tips of your extremities.
— Hold the exhale as long as you can. This creates a sense of desperation in your cells and they become that much more receptive in anticipation to receive oxygen. Try and hold the exhale at least 30 seconds at this point, or even 1 minute or longer.
— Then, breathe in a very deep breath, getting oxygen into all the far-ranging corners of your body, and hold this breath in for 15 seconds, letting your cells absorb the oxygen.
— Do a total of 3 or 4 rounds of these.
After doing this method, I really feel energized, in a good mood, and ready for whatever challenges the day will surely bring. It has become a part of my daily routine and only takes about five to ten minutes. In terms of elevating mood and creating a natural high, it’s like an all-natural, recreational drug without the toxicity!
I don’t pretend to be a top expert in breath work myself, but I work to find the best minds out there and learn from the people who are at the tip of the spear. If I find a great resource for myself, I am committed to also sharing that with you.
RapidRegeneration.com/BreathWork
As long as you are practicing methods which will suck air intensely into your body, it would be that much better if you were breathing in clean, fresh air. If you live in a relatively natural setting with trees and plants outside, then go on outside and sit in a chair to breathe in the fresh air. I have also found there is a huge difference just filtering the air in my home with a high-quality air filtration system. I find I am in a better mood and concentrating better at my home when my home air filter is sucking out the dust and toxins in the air and I can just breathe fresh, clean air.
This of course adds an additional one-time expense as well as maintenance expense from the need to change the filter, but for me it has been well worth it. If you can afford it, try it for yourself.
RapidRegeneration.com/AirFilter
I have been changed from somebody who was resistant of breath work and thinking it was only going to be a minor benefit to one of the biggest advocates you could find and a ‘daily user’ of breath work, which can be more stimulating that any drug or even a cup of coffee. Re-discover for yourself the amazing power of interchanging with the air of this planet we inhabit, and discover the explosion of energy as you change the oxygen tension of your body and begin holding more oxygen in your blood. Truly, this is one of the fountains of youthfulness and longevity. Breathe on!