Breathwork Series - Part 4 of 4
Part 1: The Hidden Power of Breath
Part 2: Breathe to Shift Stress and Cravings
Part 3: Break the Breath-Holding Habit
Part 4: Daily Breathwork for Calm and Control ← you’re here
We often remember breathing exercises when we're already stressed. The craving is strong, our head is busy and we want one technique to make the whole feeling disappear.
Daily breathwork works differently. We practise when things are calm, so the breathing pattern is already familiar before the evening gets difficult.
We can begin with a few comfortable minutes. And on days when we have more time, we can stay with it for longer. The time can change from day to day. We just keep coming back to it.
Start with something we can repeat
Sit comfortably and let the breath come in through the nose if that feels natural. Then let the out breath take a little longer.
There's no fixed finish time. We might stop after two to five minutes, or carry on for longer if that feels right.
We don't need the biggest breath possible, and we don't need to hold it. If we feel light-headed or uncomfortable, we stop and breathe normally.
I don't treat it like a performance. I sit down, notice what the breath is doing and stay with it for a while. Then I get on with the day.
Some days the practice is short. Other days I stay with it for longer. Both are fine.
Make it part of the day
Choose a time that already makes sense. It could be before opening the laptop, after lunch or when we finish work.
Pick one and attach the breathing to it. If we leave it for "sometime today," the day usually gets in the way.
We don't need a special room either. The desk, the car before going inside or the edge of the bed can all work.
And if we miss a day, we start again at the next usual time. We haven't ruined anything.
Practice and awareness aren't the same thing
Daily practice is the time we deliberately set aside. Everyday awareness is noticing what happens to the breath while we're working, driving or dealing with pressure.
Those sessions give us a reference point. We get to know what the breath feels like when we aren't rushing it.
During the day, we might notice that we're holding our breath or tightening the stomach while we concentrate. That isn't another practice session. We notice it, let the breath return to normal and carry on.
Then when the pressure does build, we're using something we've already spent time with. We aren't trying to remember instructions while our head is busy.
Breathing doesn't replace the other practical craving tools, but it gives us one familiar thing to use while we decide what to do next.
Don't judge each session
Some days we feel calmer afterwards. Other times, we notice how restless we are. Either way, we’re paying attention to what is actually happening.
And we might notice the difference later. We're a little less wound up after a difficult call, or have more patience when work hasn't gone to plan.
I still practise because it has become a normal part of looking after how I feel. I don't only remember it when I want a drink.
— Brent