If you’re curious about how simple breathing exercises can help you heal from trauma, then stick around. I’m going to take you through the basics, share a story, and give you practical tips to get started.
I’ll tell you the basics first. Focused breathing is a technique that brings you into the present moment. It tells your body to get the proper amount of air. It helps calm your mind and still your body. You can say it is more of a reset button that grounds you. This one simple act can be incredibly effective in reducing your everyday stress and anxiety.
But we are discussing how breathwork can help with trauma. Rebirthing or breathwork sessions have been used by people to address deep-seated trauma. While experiences can vary, many have found these sessions to be healing and transformative. However, one must keep in mind that it’s essential to approach breathwork with caution and ideally under the guidance of qualified professionals.
Healing from trauma involves releasing it from the subconscious mind. It is here which often triggers the nervous system. Through deep breathwork, these traumas can be processed, healed, and eventually let go. Trauma, along with being a mental or emotional experience, is also a deeply embedded wound in our bodies.
I remember working with a client who had experienced a traumatic event years ago, which I do not want to disclose. She came to me feeling constantly on edge, with a tightness in her chest and a feeling of being stuck in her head. I started incorporating breathwork into her daily routine. Initially, it was challenging for her to sit with her breath and the uncomfortable sensations in her body. But over time, she began to notice subtle changes. Her sleep was improved, her anxiety levels dropped, and she felt more connected to her body. The breathwork didn’t “fix” everything overnight, but it provided her with a tool to manage her symptoms and begin her healing journey.
Breathwork can literally regenerate your body and give birth to a new you. And I mean, ‘LITERALLY’. It has a tremendous impact on the body, including the one I listed below:
I’ll tell you the basics first. Focused breathing is a technique that brings you into the present moment. It tells your body to get the proper amount of air. It helps calm your mind and still your body. You can say it is more of a reset button that grounds you. This one simple act can be incredibly effective in reducing your everyday stress and anxiety.
But we are discussing how breathwork can help with trauma. Rebirthing or breathwork sessions have been used by people to address deep-seated trauma. While experiences can vary, many have found these sessions to be healing and transformative. However, one must keep in mind that it’s essential to approach breathwork with caution and ideally under the guidance of qualified professionals.
Healing from trauma involves releasing it from the subconscious mind. It is here which often triggers the nervous system. Through deep breathwork, these traumas can be processed, healed, and eventually let go. Trauma, along with being a mental or emotional experience, is also a deeply embedded wound in our bodies.
I remember working with a client who had experienced a traumatic event years ago, which I do not want to disclose. She came to me feeling constantly on edge, with a tightness in her chest and a feeling of being stuck in her head. I started incorporating breathwork into her daily routine. Initially, it was challenging for her to sit with her breath and the uncomfortable sensations in her body. But over time, she began to notice subtle changes. Her sleep was improved, her anxiety levels dropped, and she felt more connected to her body. The breathwork didn’t “fix” everything overnight, but it provided her with a tool to manage her symptoms and begin her healing journey.
Breathwork can literally regenerate your body and give birth to a new you. And I mean, ‘LITERALLY’. It has a tremendous impact on the body, including the one I listed below:
- Stress Reduction: Triggers the body’s relaxation response.
- Oxygenation: Increases oxygen supply, boosting energy and mental clarity.
- Heart and Blood Pressure: Lowers heart rate and blood pressure.
- Lung Function: Enhances lung capacity and efficiency.
- Detoxification: Helps remove waste from the body.
- Pain Management: Eases pain perception and promotes relaxation.
- Emotional Regulation: Regulates emotions and reduces anxiety.
- Mind-Body Connection: Improves mindfulness and self-awareness.
- Immune Function: Supports immune health by reducing stress.
There are several breathwork techniques you can try. Some may work for you, and others may not. Here are a few that have worked wonders for my clients and me; I’m sure one or another can definitely be handy for you.
- Box Breathing
- Extended Exhales
- Spinal Breath
- Alternate Nostril Breathing
- Breathwork Before Bed
- Daily Practice
- Healing Takes Time
- Yoga and Breathwork
