Published on March 19th, 2018 | by Catherine Tingey

What is Breathwork?

You may have heard of breathwork, often taught as a modality in conjunction with yoga and/or at yoga studios.

Classical hatha yoga incorporates pranayama (breathing techniques like Ujjayi breath, Lion’s Breath, Breath of Fire, Nadi Shodhana) and breathwork just expands on this.

Breathwork is a healing therapy that manipulates breath patterns to restore balance, curb cravings, improve endurance, soften anxiety, release trauma, and even alleviate mild depression.

Breathwork is often taught in a group format i.e. classes.

I’ve been to breathwork classes and if a lot of people are releasing decades-old trauma in your space, I would pass. It can be pretty intense, so I actually don’t recommend this.

If you’re interested in learning breathwork 1:1 for trauma, seek out a qualified, trained therapist with a specialty in breathwork. (Sorry, I do not know anyone.)

In my private yoga classes, these are my favorite breathwork techniques to teach:

5 MINUTES TO ZEN

Breathwork for Beginners

This is so wonderfully simple you almost might not believe it works. But it does!

Inhale. At the end of the inhale, count ‘1’.

Exhale. At the end of the exhale, count ‘2’.

+ Repeat for 5 minutes.

** Set a timer so you don’t have to track the time.

More Breathwork for Beginners

Inhale for 4 counts.

Pause for 4 counts.

Exhale for 8 counts.

+ Repeat for 5 minutes.

** If 4 counts is too long, use 3 counts.

Try these 2 techniques out — no further instruction needed!

xoxox

Catherine

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Catherine Tingey

Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 31 years and teaching privately for 11 years.

Tags: Breathwork, Yoga Breathing

About the Author

Catherine Tingey + Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 31 years and teaching privately for 11 years.