/ Pranayama
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When we are first born we inhale, and when we pass we exhale. Everything in between is breathwork—we are engaged in a continuous movement with the air that we breathe.
As you move through your Kundalini Yoga journey, you will quickly learn about the power of breathwork. Engaging in breath-control can impact every aspect of your waking life.
However, you shouldn’t merely take our word for it. Scientists and experts from around the globe have long been fascinated by this remarkable phenomenon. Within this chapter, we will take a look at the way that this practice can transform your mental and physical health.
The Power of Slow Breathing
Slow breathing—or breath-control—is at the core of much of the breathwork we do. You may find that you suspend your breath whilst meditating or engaging in pranayama.
One extremely interesting study published in Frontiers for Human Neuroscience delved into the psycho-physiological changes in brain-body interaction when slow breathing. The research found that this activity could have a profound impact on your life and health.
According to the experts, when you engage in slow breathing as part of a meditative state, it has a direct impact on both your mind and your body. The researchers noted a few different ways that this activity could impact your health and wellness journey:
Enhanced Parasympathetic Activity
Slow breathing can improve the way that your body functions on a physical level. That means that your physiological health may improve when you add this to your everyday routine. Put simply, the practice has a direct impact on your parasympathetic system.
The researchers found that the impact was two-fold. First of all, participants experienced greater levels of Heart Rate Variability. The study authors also found that participants had better signs of Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia as well.
Better Levels of Comfort
Of course, when you engage in slow breathing, you will start to feel more comfortable and relaxed. That’s no accident. According to the study, this activity can lead to higher levels of relaxation, comfort, and ease among participants. That is excellent news for most of us.
If you are the type of person who struggles to ‘switch off’ from the stresses of modern life, you might find that engaging in breathwork is the answer. As you can see from this aspect of the study, the activity is a quick and easy way to slow down your body and mind.
Reduces Symptoms of Anxiety
Anxiety is a common mental health problem—with thousands of us battling it every single year. What’s more, this problem can lead to worse mental conditions including depression.
If you suffer from general anxiety, you may find that breathwork and, in particular, slow breathing help you a great deal. The research suggested that this form of breath-control could lower side effects of arousal, anxiety, depression, anger, and confusion.
Conclusion
Adding breathwork to your everyday routine can make a major difference to your life and health. No matter how busy your lifestyle is, you can utilize this effective tool for yourself.
See more: The Benefits of Practicing Pranayama (Breathwork) Supported by Research
