By Chris Hastings, DC

“Modern research is showing us that even slight adjustments to the way we inhale and exhale can jump-start athletic performance; rejuvenate internal organs; halt snoring, asthma, and autoimmune disease; and even straighten scoliotic spines. None of this should be possible, and yet it is.“ James Nestor

Like many things we hear for the first time, I did not see how working with breath could become an important component to what I was offering for healthcare. I was wrong!

We now have the technology to see how focused breathing IMMEDIATELY shifts the nervous system into a more coherent state. Breathwork has been shown to increase our resilience and improve our ability to handle stress.

Often breathwork is connected to meditation. While meditation is fantastic, it is the act of observing your breath and tuning into your senses. Breathwork, on the other hand, involves actively participating in your breath.

Take resonant breathing, for example: breath in slowly for 5 seconds and out slowly for 5 seconds. I first started resonant breathing while driving into work, practicing it for the length of an exit on I-91 (about 8 minutes).

After just one of these sessions, I felt centered (not my normal language!).

So, what else is this good for?

Anyone have indigestion? High blood pressure? Insomnia? Anxiety?

All of these can be attributed to an overactive stress response, and breathwork can be an important tool to achieving a more balanced state.

As a first step, try the BOLT (Body Oxygen Level Test) to benchmark your tolerance: https://oxygenadvantage.com/measure-bolt/

Then try resonant breathing, anywhere, anytime.

PS: For those interested in the science behind this, I use heart rate variability (HRV) to measure and validate the feeling of being centered. (HRV is a biometric marker of our autonomic nervous system.)