M: 07909 542453
Breathwork
Conscious Breathing & Pranayama
Session Price:
Group studio session (1hr) is ï¿¡15
Zoom session (1hr) is £10
Next Available Date
Tuesday 23rd April 2024. Book online here.
Harpenden, Hertfordshire or from the comfort of your own home via Zoom,
Location
Breath is life
"Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again " - Thich Nhat Hanh
What is Breathwork & Pranayama?
Breathwork and Pranayama both focus on the knowledge of using the breath as a tool to improve mental and physical health.
Pranayama breathing techniques are ancient yoga practices of controlling your breath. You control the timing, duration, and frequency of every breath and hold. Pranayama helps to connect your body and mind whilst supplying your body with oxygen and removing toxins which is turn provides healing physiological benefits.
Breathwork is a modern breathing practice with the same principles of Pranayama, with a more scientific approach.
The breathing exercises are simple yet very effective. Scientific studies of Breathwork have proven mental benefits like stress reduction, insomnia prevention, emotion control as well as physical benefits like pain relief and a boost to the immune system.
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Benefits include:
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Strengthen's the respiratory system
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Strengthen's the lymphatic system
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Detoxifies the body
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Balance the hormones
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Boosts the immune system
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Calms the nervous system
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Improves the cardiovascular system
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Brain empowerment
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Improves the digestive system
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Healing of the body and mind
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Enhances deep restorative sleep
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Relief of anxiety and depression
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Increases creativity
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What to Expect
During a typical breathwork session I will explain a little about conscious breathing and what we do during the session. We will then practice different types of breathing - for energising and harmonising the body or calming the mind and body. We will then go into a deep mediative state so that we can connect with our true nature and the essence of who we truly are. Some sessions may start lying down or sitting up so comfortable clothing is preferable.
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I teach breathwork in 1-1 sessions and group sessions. I also teach breathwork sessions to the business world, helping employees to manage their stress, feel calmer and have more clarity in their working environment.
What are the Differences Between Breathwork & Meditation?
Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, activity, or thought to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clarity and an emotionally calm and stable state.
Meditation is a slow and steady practice that over a period of time will shift our perspective, allowing us to go deeper into the subtle layers of our being. Many people find meditation hard and are seeking a different form of relief that meditation does not always bring them. Breathwork can give you immediate relief and is a great tool to use when you're feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious.
"Breath is the ultimate key to your wellbeing and if done right, it has the power to transform your entire life — physical, mental, and spiritual."
— Tony Robbins
Who can Benefit from Breathwork?
Conscious breathwork is extremely supportive for anyone struggling with stress, anxiety, tension, overwhelm, fear, depression, grief, sadness, anger, trauma, insomnia, etc. Besides being a great tool for our mental aspect, breathwork is also nourishing for someone who is doing well and feels ready for the next opening; the next layer of love, peace, gratitude, clarity and a deeper connection to themselves.
Contraindications
Everyone can benefit from breathwork, although those with high blood pressure, heart problems, epilepsy, or are pregnant, will need to focus more on the calming relaxing breaths and not do the breath holds - please speak to me about this.
More and more people are implementing breathing practices into their daily lives because the benefits are life changing to them. Being conscious of your breath can make a huge difference to your mental and physical wellbeing.
Breath is Life
We breathe around 20,000 times per day, yet for most of us we are not conscious of how we breathe, nor of how powerful our breath is. When we enter into the world we take our first breath, and when we exit we take our last breath; therefore breathing is so important. As babies and young children our breath is long, smooth, even and calm. As we get older our stresses and emotional upset may correlate to breathing restrictions, often our breath becomes shorter which can impact our respiratory system.
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Through conscious breathwork we can help change and regulate the body and mind. The breath and mind are connected. When we are stressed and the mind is full, the breath is often short and shallow. When we are calm the breath is long and slow. We can use our calming breath to rebalance the mind and control our levels of stress.
By practicing diaphragmatic breathing we stimulate our Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS); our rest and digest, which brings us to a calm state of being. When we are in the PNS state the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is less active. When we are stressed, we are in the SNS; the flight fight mode and cortisol and adrenaline are released around the body. Conscious breathwork is learning how to use the full capacity of our natural breathing system to help us feel more energised, lighter, positive, calmer and have more clarity in our thinking.
