Have you heard of the term
"Breathwork"?
It is becoming a word or term used for better health as people are becoming aware of better breathing techniques is required not only for exercise, but also for meditation, stress relief and of course general health and wellness.
Many people are surprised to learn that that they don't actually know how to breathe and be in sink with their bodies. When your body runs on stress (fight or flight activation, sleep deprivation, inactivity, poor diet, dehydration, chemical exposures etc) the respiratory system is the first one to be impacted. In this stressed state most people will shallow breathe or hold their breath.
They breathe in their chest, exhale through their mouths and engage in irregular breathing patterns that lead to mild or severe forms of hyperventilation.
You can read more about the
Breathwork that we do within my clinic.
Hyperventilation results from shallow, chest and through the mouth breathing which changes your PH and leads to reduced body oxygenation, acidity and accompanying poor health. This includes weigh gain, headaches, low energy, altered metabolism, poor digestion, dull and dry skin and rapid aging.
Changing your breathing habits doesn't happen overnight and it is important to implement the following steps gradually and with kindness.
Practice breathing slow, low, rhythmic and nasal breathing daily.
As you do this you may experience pressure build up in you nasal cavities and forehead which in some people can lead to tension headaches and feeling kind of anxious. If that happens please know it is normal. If too uncomfortable you can reduce the frequency. Practice the 3-5-2 daily as this should become the new normal rhythm of breathing. Use this breathing particularly when feeling stressed, in pain or having difficulties relaxing and sleeping.
If you would like to explore more breathing techniques - Book in for a
consulation.
I also have a great breathwork tool that ay assist your breathing -
See the Relaxator here.
Anca Vereen is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Nutritionist, Psychotherapist, Breathing Coach and Nutrigenomics Lecturer for Latrobe University who specialises in stress management, weight loss and health and lifestyle optimisation.
To learn more about how to optimise your nutrition and hydration please visit https://www.ancavereen.com/online-nutrition-courses-melbourne-australia
For more details on breathing please visit https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-breathe