Why Focus on Breath?
Written by: Hailee Aune
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Breathing is what keeps us alive.
As we enter into this life we inhale and as we enter out of this life we exhale.
If we breathe all the time, why should we practice breathwork?
In our modern society, there are many distractions that take us away from the present moment. The present moment is where our bodies live.
Our mind can take us into the past or future in a second. This can cause disconnection from our body and subsequently our breath.
The main reason why I feel so passionately about breathwork is that I am a yoga instructor. I see the practice of yoga and breathwork, and the science behind it, vital to living a balanced life.
My first introduction to yoga was my mother. She became an instructor when I was around age 11. I felt drawn to the practice and have practiced on and off throughout the years before deciding to dive deeper and study yoga.
Why did I choose to study yoga?
Well, flash back to 2021. I moved back to Minnesota after living 9 months in Kansas being a live-in nanny. I worked for the best family I could have ever asked to work for.
It was a tough decision, but ultimately I moved back to Minnesota to be closer to my family and boyfriend (now husband).
I got a job in health care working as an assistant office manager in a dental office. This was my first “big girl” job I had after I graduated from college in December of 2019. I was excited and ready to get into my career.
As I worked at this job I was noticing how unlike myself I was becoming.
After dealing with patients all day and trying my best to help people I was exhausted. I was exhausted from having to work with the healthcare system. It seemed to be working against me.
I was tired of insurance that patients paid for monthly to cover basically nothing of what they needed.
I was tired of being yelled at by patients because I was the middle man between them and the doctor.
I felt like no one was listening when I would advocate for patients.
I barely got to do the things I loved because of the long hours I worked and just being mentally exhausted when I was done.
I stuck out the job for a year. But I wanted to help people and working there was not the answer.
I took about 6 months of time for myself, working as a bartender and teaching dance. I enrolled in a 200 hour yoga teacher training, something that I had been on my heart to do for awhile. During that training, I realized that meaningful work is important to me.
I wanted to make a difference and help others.
I have learned throughout my yoga practice the importance of breath in everyday life.
Pranayama is the art of breathing. “Prana” meaning life-force energy, and “yama” meaning control. The practice of Pranayama is essential to a great yoga practice, and overall a great life!
Slow, deep, mindful breathing increases activity in the vagus nerve. When the vagus nerve is stimulated, the heart rate slows and becomes regular, blood pressure decreases, muscles relax. The vagus nerve informs the brain of these changes, and it, too, relaxes and increases feelings of peacefulness.
Bringing awareness to my breath brings me back into the moment.
Instead of feeling out of control I start to realize what is important in the present moment and how I can move towards mindfulness. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Breathwork brings you back into your body. The connection between the mind and body is so integral to our overall health.
During the holiday season incorporating breathwork is going to help you stay connected and grounded to reality. This is a busy season, so when can you find time to practice being in the moment?
Breathwork is not about carving time out of your day necessarily, it is about practicing it throughout the day and the more you do it the more it becomes a part of your life.
There is no better time to start a habit than when you’re super busy.
When you slow down and breathe, you become aware of your thoughts and then can categorize the thoughts: productive or not productive, needed for this moment or not needed for this moment.
Imagine you're at a holiday get together and a relative makes a snarky comment towards you.
Instead of feeling annoyed, hurt, or maybe angry, take a breath. Begin to inhale through your nose deep into your lower belly, expanding it and exhale gently out of your nose. Find a moment of hesitation before responding.
If the comment does not need a response choose to not respond. This small adjustment can help you enjoy yourself and let comments that don’t serve you roll off your back.
I started practicing my breathing every time I get in my car to drive.
About a year ago I realized how short and shallow my breath would be while driving. It was causing tension in my shoulders and I would feel overwhelmed easily if the roads were icy.
Now, everytime I get in my car, I take a deep inhale and slow exhale a few times and I have no tension in my shoulders after being in the car for long drives. I tend to be less annoyed by other drivers on the road.
I realized that I am in control of how I feel even when there are things I cannot control. There is no use thinking of scenarios that cause unnecessary anxiety, all I have is this moment and this breath.
By making this small adjustment in my routine I have become mindful in other small day to day moments in my life.
Breathing is what brings you back into the present moment.
Slowing down during this busy time of year is going to make for a more mindful, enjoyable holiday season. Taking breathwork and incorporating it into your daily life is going to make an impact on how you react and what you choose to prioritize.
Along with the great benefits that it has on your life, your health will be positively impacted.
Let go of negativity and instead breathe in positivity, light, and loving kindness into your life. You will not regret choosing to focus on your breath!
You can find Hailee’s classes at The Yoga Studio and Salon Sashay Salt Spa.