Why is breath work all the rage?
For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth.
—Sanskrit proverb
If you have been feeling stressed, irritable, frustrated, or even erratic with your emotions, breathwork can be a powerful tool to help you move energy and emotions through the body.
Remember, spring is the season of the Wood Element and anger/frustration (its myriad manifestations) is the corresponding emotion.
We breathe approximately 22,000 times per day, and unless you are breathing fully, and mind-fully, you are missing out on some critical benefits.
As a result a result of shallow breathing, the diaphragm becomes restricted. The diaphragm sits on top of the liver, and as we breathe, it gently massages the liver.
The massaging action of the diaphragm on the liver helps to promote the smooth, unencumbered flow of Liver qi.
Shallow breathing creates Stagnation of Liver qi, which may create a cascade of negative health effects.
When the Liver becomes stagnant, imbalances manifest as erratic emotions, anger, irritability, frequent sighing, asthma, headaches, digestive issues, PMS, insomnia, muscle tension, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, ability to focus and seasonal allergies.
There are many different breathing techniques that can help manage stress, insomnia, regulate the cardiovascular system, reduce chronic anxiety, ease negative emotions (particularly anger and its manifestations), decrease blood pressure, improve pulmonary function, and the list goes on.
Finding a daily practice that works for you is key to helping regulate physical and emotional stress.
Acupuncture is another great therapy to address stagnation of Liver Qi and to help with all of the symptoms associated; a breathwork practice will greatly enhance your wellbeing and the benefits of acupuncture.
There are many different breathing techniques that will help you regulate Liver Qi and decrease stress.
Ready to try on your own?
A simple practice is to set a timer for 5 minutes and do what is called box breathing.
Here is a guide to box breathing:
inhale for a count of 4, expanding fully into your chest from front to back and into your abdomen
hold for a count of 4, releasing slowly all of the air from your lungs,
hold the exhale for a count of 4
repeat the cycle
It helps to be in an upright seated position or standing.
I have also done this lying down with therapy balls behind my back to give an added massage to tense and tight back muscles, which may inhibit our ability to breathe. I place two balls on either side of my spine starting at the level of my bottom ribs. I take three deep breaths at each level and then move them up incrementally until I get to the top of my thoracic spine.
Try it for yourself!