Planting Zen

“A view shared by many yoga traditions, and supported by
Western science on respiratory physiology, is that emotional states are expressed in breathing patterns, and subsequently that voluntary changes of the breathing patterns can alter emotional states and influence well-being.”

Every human experiences emotions on a daily basis, whether they deal with them or not. Emotions, when observed and used properly, can be a powerful tool to release trauma and stuck energy from within the body.

When a baby is born, it is observed that their breath moves the entire body. The belly rises generously with each inhale, and the exhales seems to empty out all the previously consumed air down to the last drop. As people grow, life dumps experiences and emotions on them inviting anxieties, traumas, and unhealthy coping mechanisms into their being. Unless one is shown how to deal with life’s ups and downs from a young age, people tend to grow into a shallow chest breath. Shoulders hunch over, stress is allowed to wreak havoc on the different layers of a persons existence. Many people enter adulthood unknowingly breathing improperly and subconsciously opening themselves up to more stress and negativity to be trapped within them. At least, this was the case for me and many other people I know. It wasn’t until I began to explore my Self through a yoga practice that I began to notice the natural way I had been breathing.

Coming to yoga was like learning to breathe all over again. Simple cues such as, ‘draw the shoulders up towards the ears on an inhale and slide the shoulder blades back and down with your exhale. Feel the opening of the chest. Allow the inhale to expand the belly, the sides of the ribs, the top of the chest as if it was a balloon. Emptying all the stale air out with the exhale…rejuvenating inhale, releasing exhale. Again and again.”

Calming down and regulating the nervous system is (in my opinion) my number one benefit from certain breathing patterns. Most dis regulation, anxiety, depression, and mood swings stem from a wonky nervous system. The best gift you can give yourself is a way to center your Self when you’re feeling amped up; & The quickest way to accomplish this is through the breath.

I mean, Pranayama is an ENTIRE limb of yoga dedicated to JUST breathing techniques. Those ancient yogis knew what was up, for sure.

If you’re curious about what type of breathing patterns can help you regulate yourself, please reach out to me and we can work together to find the practice that best suites your individual needs.

❤ Kriszen