Breathe & Release: New Class & the Benefits of Breathwork

Breath is our body's most vital and essential fuel, available to all, regardless of our background, physical fitness level or income. Each of us breathes about 10,000 litres of air per day, making the breath our main source of energy. Yet it is a process we tend to take for granted and ignore, too often paying little attention to it. 

Pranayama is the ancient yogic practice focusing on breath, it refers to breathing exercises which clear the physical and emotional obstacles in our body, facilitating the flow of prana - life energy. Specifically-oriented breathwork can benefit our bodies and minds in more ways than one, including all the major organs and systems, with its practice and study having been popular in both, the East and West throughout centuries.

Amongst the many benefits, it helps to “downshift” and reset the nervous system, lowering blood pressure and heart rate, as well as the levels of cortisol - our stress hormone, triggering relaxation.

Reduced anxiety has also been documented in this study, which found that participants had lower levels of anxiety and stress through practicing a specific type of Pranayama breath over four weeks, supported by their subsequent MRIs. This, in turn, impacts the quality of our sleep, with paced breathing exercises having been proven in research to help with insomnia.

Strengthening the gut-brain connection through breathwork has beneficial outcomes on digestive disorders as well, with gastrointestinal patients in some clinics being taught diaphragmatic breathing, and IBS patients reporting symptom improvement through committed breathwork exercises.

Lowering the body’s fear response and knowing how to exit the “fight or flight” mode, which, let’s face it, for so many of us has become ‘modus operandi’, helps immensely with memory retention and focus, literally “sharpening” the mind. As noted by Michael Melnychuk, a Ph.D. researcher at the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience in Dublin, “Put simply, this means that our attention is influenced by our breath and that it rises and falls with the cycle of respiration. It is possible that by focusing on and regulating your breathing, you can optimise your attention level and likewise, by focusing on your attention level, your breathing becomes more synchronised.”

The quality of our breath, pace and rhythm has a huge impact on the immune system as well. Diaphragmatic breathing helps expands the lungs, increases efficiency in oxygen absorption and supply; strengthening chest muscles - all of which boost our immune responses.

Kate R by Lilika Strezoska

The many ways in which breathwork can impact all of our health and wellbeing are undeniable. And we have long wanted to incorporate regular classes dedicated to exploring and practicing this vital topic. Moreover, it completes our “perfect weekly cycle” of workouts, which already includes cardio, mobility, strength and stretching. While it can be initially hard to engage with something considered so basic as breathing, when done properly, it can be truly life transformative.

So, please welcome a new class taking place each Monday evening in Mitte at 8.30pm, called Breathe and Release. In this unique class taught by Kate R, yoga teacher and certified Mindfulness & Meditation coach, you can expect some deep stretching and release sequences to help relieve physical tension and aid the respiratory system. Followed by a journey of breath techniques to unblock any unresolved energy within the body, and return to physical and mental wellbeing. We hope to see you there!

Written by BECYCLE & BEYOND marketing manager & integrative health coach, Katia Varfolomeeva