One thing breathwork instructors appreciate is its simplicity. Breathwork is a low-barrier practice that just about anyone can do. No special training or equipment is required. You can start today if you want to.
It’s good to work with an instructor who can help you on your breathwork journey more quickly and consistently. But even without an instructor and face-to-face sessions, you can take your own breathwork journey with the help of some online research and maybe a video or two.
Mindful and Intentional Breathing
At its core, breathwork is mindful and intentional breathing practiced as exercises. We practitioners encourage breathwork as a way to influence a person’s physical, emotional, and mental state. We recommend that beginners start their journeys with a gentle, beginner-friendly form that focuses on slowing and deepening one’s breath.
Speaking of forms, there isn’t just one way to practice breath work. There are many. Here are just a few of the more common forms:
- Box breathing
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Physiological sigh
- Alternate nostril breathing
- Pursed lip breathing
An instructor could teach you all these different forms, and more. That is one of the benefits of working with an instructor. Nonetheless, all these forms can be practiced in the privacy of your own home once you learn the techniques.
Tips for New Breathwork Practitioners
While there is plenty of flexibility to practice breathwork in a way that suits you, how you go about it matters. The environment you create and the mindset you bring to accession impact how beneficial the exercise is. To that end, here are some tips for new practitioners:
- Start Slowly – It’s best to start slowly and gradually work your way up. Set aside 2-5 minutes a day to practice. As you gain confidence, you slowly increase your time.
- Create the Environment – It is really important to create a conducive environment for breathwork. Choose a quiet and comfortable place where you can practice without distraction. Also choose a comfortable position, like sitting or lying down.
- Focus Your Mind – You will be amazed by how many distracting thoughts enter your mind while you are trying to concentrate on your breathing. Work on focusing your mind so that it doesn’t wander away from the moment.
We recommend making breathwork part of a broader self-care plan that includes other tools for helping you relax, manage stress, and improve your inner self. Breathwork is about wellness. And every wellness tool capable of helping you is worth utilizing. Don’t think that breathwork is the be-all and end-all wellness strategy.
A Sample Routine for New Practitioners
A good way to close this post is to offer a sample routine for new breathwork practitioners. It’s basic box breathing, which is one of the easiest forms of breathwork to learn. Here’s the routine:
- Find a comfortable position that encourages a straight back and relaxed shoulders.
- Inhale through the nostrils while counting to four. Feel your belly expand as you inhale.
- Hold your breath, again counting to four.
- Slowly exhale through the mouth while you count to four.
- Hold again for another count of four.
Repeating this box for 5-10 cycles can teach you to focus on smooth, relaxed breathing. You can begin this routine with daily sessions of 2-5 minutes. Mastering box breathing will give you insights into how controlled breathing affects your mental and emotional state. Just by practicing daily, you’ll start to better understand yourself.
Breathwork is a journey. Once you start, it is something you’ll look forward to. Are you ready to take that first step?
