Simple Tools for Mind & Body
Our breath is something we carry with us every moment of the day, yet most of us rarely think about how powerful it can be. The way we breathe can influence our nervous system, our level of arousal and the way we experience stress, anxiety and overwhelm.
Learning to work consciously with the breath can be a simple way of helping the body and mind settle. It isn't about making difficult changes or trying to force ourselves to relax. Sometimes, a few minutes of intentional breathing can give us a little more space between what is happening around us and how we respond.
Below are two videos exploring different approaches to breathwork.
Dr Andrew Huberman explores the neuroscience behind breathing and how particular breathing patterns can influence our internal state, while Dr Andrew Weil's 4-7-8 breathing is a simple technique that can be used as a calming practice.
Dr Huberman is a professor of neuroscience and ophthalmology at Stanford University, where he also leads a research laboratory. His work explores how the brain functions, how it can change through experience and learning (neuroplasticity), and how brain circuits may be repaired following injury or disease.
The Stanford Lab discovered that there's a direct link between the portion of the brain that controls emotion and the portion of your brain that controls breathing.
Voluntary breathing can shift your emotions and your inner state.
Your inner state can shift your breathing pattern.
I've included these videos as practical resources you can explore for yourself. You may find that one particular breathing practice resonates with you more than another. As with any tool, the value is in finding something that feels useful and manageable enough to become part of your everyday life.
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