Stressed and anxious? The current state of things can fray anyone’s nerves, especially those who do not have a good emotional support network to back them up. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to keep your sanity and avoid giving in to stress. Breathwork online is one of these techniques that can help you develop a more resilient physical and mental response to stress. Read on to learn more.

Develops self-awareness

Breathwork forces you to slow down and focus on an activity you can control. By slowing, down and focusing on each inhale and exhale you tune out the sources of tension and stress, and you shift your mind to something you can control. This can be crucial during times when you feel like your world is spinning and you can’t do anything to make things slow down. Staying still and focusing on your breathing, the rise and fall of your chest, and the feel of your breath entering and leaving the body can bring you back to the present.

Help you revert to a calm emotional state

Conscious breathing can help you physically slow down your heart rate. As you complete a full breathing cycle, you activate your parasympathetic nervous system which slows your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure. This can have immediate effects if you are in a fight or flight state, with cortisol and adrenaline coursing through your body. By breathing deeply and exhaling from the gut, you lower your heart and restore your normal blood pressure. A slight variation in how you breathe, for example, relying on your diaphragm instead of your chest during each inhale and exhale can help you relax your neck and chest muscles. Drawing each breath from the diaphragm also helps you draw a larger amount of oxygen to your cells and organs, eliminating the tendency to take short, tense breaths when you are stressed.

Develops Mental Clarity

There are specific breathwork techniques designed to target the mind by clearing it of cluttered thoughts. Breathwork has been shown to be beneficial for those with depression, PTSD, and anxiety. This can be an effective adjunct treatment for those that do not respond to conventional treatments for these disorders.

Breathwork is a specific workout that can also be developed into a powerful therapeutic practice. Learn breathwork basics so you can deal with life’s stressors in a more effective way. Learn breathwork online or sign up for in-person classes today.