Take a breather

Are you breathing comfortably?

As you sit there now: Are you consciously aware that you are breathing? Until I mentioned it...probably not. Breathing is an innate and involuntary function controlled by our autonomic system - which means for most of us, much of the time our breathing patterns don't register on our radar.

Perhaps as you read this and become aware of your breathing now, you can notice more about your breathing pattern? Short and shallow or long and deep. Some people breathe high up into their chest and others breathe low, deep into their stomach and these patterns change depending on our circumstances. In these ever busy days, the stresses and tensions of life tend to mean that most people are in the first camp - breathing short and shallow. What's more as stress increases, breathing patterns accelerate as part of our flight and fight response, thus fuelling and prolonging feelings of anxiety.

What happens when we breathe?

On an inhalation the diaphragm contracts and moves down making way for air to fill the lungs. When oxygen enters the lungs there is an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and blood in the lungs. A complex network of blood vessels and capillaries carries oxygen to all parts of our body.

Breathing is quite a remarkable bodily function in that although for most of the time it remains an involuntary function, if you choose, you may alter the patterns of your breath. By paying attention to your breathing pattern you may learn how to manipulate it, to have a profound effect on your body and mind. Stress can be reduced and well being improved simply by focusing on long, abdominal breaths. Deep breathing creates a shift in the nervous system away from stress and towards relaxation, calm and mental clarity. 

Deep focused breathing can help generate a state of rest and repair. Diaphragmatic breath has been shown to positively affect immune function, hypertension, asthma, autonomic nervous system imbalances, and psychological or stress-related disorders. 

Learn to breathe...

One of the times that women may be familiar with 'learning to breathe' is within antenatal classes. Natal Hypnotherapy teaches women deep abdominal breathing which can help to:

•Relax your body

•Expanding your abdomen & lungs makes more room for the uterus

•Your blood pressure remains at a healthy level

•Increases the level of oxygen to your muscles and to your baby

•Increases the production of birthing hormones 

•Helps get rid of toxins and lactic acid

Instinctive deep, autonomic breathing can come naturally within a birthing scenario - but what about the rest of time? In daily life we often hear the deep exasperated sigh of someone who is feeling 'brassed off'. A natural antedote for frustruation. Perhaps it is a case of staying in tune with our bodies - and really breathing properly when we need to? Perhaps incorporating deep breathing on a day to day basis is the way forward... Incidentally the process of hypnosis is synonymous with deep breathing and just another benefit of hypnotherapy.

Yogis have known for centuries all about the benefits of good breathing and it seems science is finding more and more reasons that we should take advantage of this rich and free medication. So whether or not you are preparing for birth, whether or not you are feeling stressed out.
Keep on (deep) breathing ;)

Yoga and breathing 

Relaxation Techniques