Breathwork practice has been around since the beginning of time, and in recent years it has gained significant momentum in our collective attention. The conscious control of the breath comes in different forms, many with the primary goal of altering state. For example, some forms of breathwork ramp up our physiology, others aim to induce a more parasympathetic (rest/ recover) response.
As we experiment with different forms of breathing and become more in tune with our experience, it becomes clear that it’s more than altered states we achieve. In fact, all forms of controlled breathing protocols have the ability to contribute to our underlying stockpile of resilience.
There’s at least two ways breathwork practice can build your resilience.
First, there’s breathing protocols that lead you down the parasympathetic road, specifically protocols that require slow, controlled inhales and exhales (for example, four second inhale followed by an eight second exhale). These forms of breathing protocols lead to an increased relaxation response, a sense of calm, and a focused mind.
With consistency, down-regulating protocols help to rewire the brain, and ultimately how we view day-by-day and minute-by-minute issues we are confronted with. By training our mind to slow down, it affords us the opportunity to create more distance between any provoking stimulus and our ultimate response. In turn, this allows us to make better decisions for our current and future self.
A second benefit of regular practice is tied to the training required to build your carbon dioxide (CO2) tolerance. During CO2 tolerance training protocols, there are numerous breath hold requirements. At times, we can feel as though we don’t have enough oxygen. More often than not, that ‘air hunger’ sensation is the central nervous system’s governor raising the flag saying ‘it’s time to breathe’, even though there is sufficient oxygen flowing around your system.
During those moments, and especially as we build our tolerance over time, we have a choice as to what our inner dialogue sounds like. Clearly, the goal is not to push ourselves far beyond our current limits to the point of danger. That said, positive self-talk is undoubtedly required to ramp up our mindset to go past any self-imposed limits. Over time, this resilient self-talk translates to how we function in other situations where we might sense challenge.
Regardless what your goals, incorporating some form of breathing protocols into your daily routine will reap significant outcomes. While the immediate benefits range from improved diaphragm function to better athletic performance, it’s critical to zero in on the opportunity you have to also build a more resilient system with every inhale and exhale.
RESOURCES.
Here are some apps available to get you started:
XPT - Created by big wave surfer, Laird Hamilton and pro-volleyball player, Gabby Reece, the XPT Life app has a constantly growing library performance breathwork protocols as well as a host of movement and recovery workouts.
State - Developed by Power Speed Endurance and Art of Breath founder, Brian MacKenzie, with it’s minimalist interface, the State app allows you to customize your experience based on your changing abilities as well as the physiological state you’d like to accomplish.
