The benefits of Breathing Meditation

What is breathing meditation?

Mindful breathing is a very basic yet powerful mindfulness meditation practice. Just simply  focus your attention on your breathing—to its natural rhythm and flow and the way it feels on each inhale and exhale. A natural breathing pattern starts when you breathe in, your diaphragm contracts downwards towards your belly. That allows your lungs to expand and take in oxygen since there’s more room in the chest cavity. The intercostal muscles, which run in between your ribs, help the chest cavity expand.

To breathe out, the diaphragm relaxes back to its original state, causing the lungs and chest cavity to contract and expel carbon dioxide.

If your breathing is shallow, you’re not getting oxygen all the way down into the bottom part of the lungs, which is where many of the small blood vessels that deliver oxygen to your cells live. People who are shallow breathers tend to lack energy and be lethargic because of the lack of oxygen delivered to the cells.  Breathing deeply correctly can help slow your heart rate, stabilize your blood pressure and increase energy.

Mindfulness is a well-researched psychological practice and can be an effective non pharmacological intervention. For example, the efficacy of mindfulness-based breathing interventions enables the reduction of anxiety and depression.

Research has shown that as little as 4 weeks with 15 min mindfulness breathing practice in each session decreased the mean scores for depression, anxiety, and stress in the intervention group. Interestingly its stability and effectiveness have also been demonstrated in many studies on insomnia.

We live in a stressful world and as part of a well rounded health and fitness program I recommend you practice some mindfulness breathing regularly. 15 minutes is all you need!

Join Jack & Hill Breathwork guided meditation with holistic counselor Helen Manoli on Tuesday 18 April at 7.20pm to get started!

Bookings essential!