Breathwork, breath watching, or pranayama are several methods of breathing that are used by people for all sorts of reasons, from pain relief to a pre-workout warmup, and even to help with psychological trauma. The practice has been around for thousands of years and has been used across different cultures. However, breathwork is most often connected with the practice of yoga.
Breathwork can be used to relax, get rid of negative emotions, energize yourself for an activity, and even help you keep calm in challenging situations. Breathwork can be done alone, in groups, or even in classes and workshops with an instructor. Today, we’ll learn about what breathwork is, what it does for you, how it is related to yoga, and whether you need it or not.
Is Breathwork Related To Yoga?
A most frequent question about breathwork is its relationship to yoga. People usually want to know whether breathwork is a part of yoga or not. So, are yoga and breathwork related? Yes. The act of purposeful breathing within yoga is known as pranayama. The word Pranayama means “to gain vital life force” and doing so allows a person to increase their strength and vitality. However, in truth, breathwork by itself is not the same as yoga because breathwork is used for a multitude of different things such as martial arts, working out, and by psychiatrists to help patients in emotional distress.
How Are Breathwork Classes Led?
Now, when it comes to practicing breathwork, you don’t need much — just a quiet, relaxing space and a comfortable place to sit or lie down. As long as you’re in a calm, distraction-free space, you can practice breathwork with ease.
If you’re a newcomer to breathwork, then you will probably be most successful in your practice by attending a class or workshop to familiarize yourself with the techniques. Most of the time, classes are held in studios or gyms. The space should be decorated minimally and kept clutter-free to promote calmness. There may be some incense or calm music playing to enhance the experience.
In some cases, an instructor may sit at the head of the group and will lead the class by example. Sometimes, the instructor may walk among the attendees to help them with their postures and make suggestions for improved technique if needed.
Benefits of Breathwork and Yoga on Health
Breathwork has been proven to be effective on different health conditions. From anxiety to chronic pain, there are several different benefits that breathwork can offer you. We will list and describe some of them here.
- Emotional Health And Trauma
One of the most obvious effects of breathwork is the effect it has on a person’s emotional health. First-timers can experience a host of different feelings and sensations during a session. Most come out of the session feeling completely different and lighter as if they have let go of past traumas and problems. Breathwork has been used to reduce anxiety and to relax and clear the mind during stressful moments. Many psychiatrists use breathwork to help their patients overcome negative emotions and harsh memories of the past and to come to terms with themselves in a way.
- Effects On Overall Energy Levels
Other than its use to help with emotional blocks, breathwork is popular amongst fitness professionals to help prepare the body before a workout and even post-workout to raise the body’s energy levels. Breathwork techniques help to bring more oxygen into the body and therefore ready you for a day of hard work and effort. This doesn’t just extend to physical efforts but mental efforts as well. Breathwork allows a person to get into a calmer headspace and have a better attitude during a challenging situation.
- Pain Control and Reduction
For a long time, breathwork has been recommended by physiotherapists for people suffering from chronic pain. Deep breathing reinforces the body’s ability to heal itself and releases endorphins, which are the brain’s feel-good chemicals. Selected breathing techniques also reduce the amount of cortisol in the body, which further reduces the sensation of pain.
Hire A Breathwork Instructor or Take up a Yoga Class?
So, do you have to hire a breathwork instructor if you want to get into it? The truth is that you don’t have to. There are many avenues by which you can learn breathwork. There are online sessions you can do and even videos you can follow to begin to dabble in breathwork. Of course, there is no substitute for a one-on-one session with a breathwork instructor for personalized attention and instruction. An instructor, especially in a one-on-one session, can help you immensely to find and release those negative emotions and clear up fears and doubts. Something that an instructor can do is help you focus on the areas where you need help the most. It is no different from yoga classes.
Let’s say you want to hire an instructor, so what can you be expected to pay? The truth is that there is no flat rate. You can be expected to pay anywhere from $100 – $230 per solo session. However, in the case of a workshop or class, you can expect to pay anywhere between $20-$45.
What if you’re interested in becoming an instructor yourself? What does that entail? There isn’t much holding you back from becoming an instructor as some workshops and classes offer teaching sessions as well. There’s also a plethora of material online that can help you to become a successful breathwork instructor. Read more about becoming a certified breathwork instructor here.
Conclusion
Yoga and breathwork are interrelated, and both do wonders for the body, mind, and spirit. Breathwork is incredibly beneficial, and it’s helped many different people throughout the ages. Whether for fitness, relaxation, or emotional distress, there is a lot that breathwork can do for you, especially when it is practiced in conjunction with yoga. A breathwork instructor can be instrumental in preparing you for proper breathwork practice, or you could study to become an instructor yourself!
You can also read: The Buteyko Breathing Technique And Its Benefits