The 7 Best Breathwork Techniques & Exercises to Use
Breathwork exercises are a fantastic way to reduce stress, improve your concentration, and enhance overall well-being. Here are seven top techniques that you can incorporate into your daily routine:
1. Diaphragmatic Breathing (Belly Breathing): This foundational breathwork technique involves deep breathing through the diaphragm. To practice, lie on your back with one hand on your belly. Breathe in deeply through your nose, expanding your belly, and then exhale slowly.
2. Box Breathing (Four-Square Breathing): Ideal for focus and calmness, this technique requires you to inhale for four counts, hold your breath for four counts, exhale for four counts, and then hold again for four counts before repeating the cycle.
3. Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana): This exercise is excellent for balancing the mind and body. With one hand, gently close your right nostril and inhale through the left nostril; then close the left nostril, open the right, and exhale.
4. 4-7-8 Breathing: This method is known for promoting relaxation quickly. Breathe in for four seconds, hold the breath for seven seconds, and exhale steadily for eight seconds.
5. Lion’s Breath (Simhasana): A revitalizing breath that involves taking a deep breath through the nose and exhaling forcefully through the mouth while making a ‘ha’ sound and stretching out the tongue.
6. Breath Focus: Choose a word that promotes relaxation like ‘calm’ or ‘peace’. As you breathe deeply and slowly, focus on this word silently on every exhale to help maintain focus on breathing.
7. Pursed Lip Breathing: Great for improving lung function and easing shortness of breath. Inhale through your nose with a closed mouth then exhale slowly by blowing air out through pursed lips as if whistling.