Breathwork can refer to any practice in which we intentionally use the breath to elicit an altered state of consciousness. Breathwork has been used in yogic traditions for thousands of years, and today it is practised for everything from personal development, cold exposure, free diving, creativity enhancement, trauma release and consciousness exploration. 

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Breathing in Culture is a collaboration between Alexander Beiner and Inspirational Breathing, a breathwork school founded by Nicola Price. Alexander chose to train with Nicola after trying a variety of breathwork modalities and landing on Inspirational Breathing because of its unique combination of movement, music, physiology and personal inquiry, as well as its deep-rooted ethos. Nicola and those trained in Inspirational Breathing teach with a vibrancy, positivity and nuance that sets them above many other modalities out there.

 

Inspirational Breathing uses a technique called ‘Conscious Connected’ breath, which involves deep intentional breathing through the mouth to elicit a powerful altered state. Breathwork isn’t only about our minds and emotions: it’s also physical. You take 20,000 breaths a day, and each of those breaths fuels your body. A growing body of research suggests that learning how to take full breaths can have a significant impact on our wellbeing. 

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This combination of physiology and psychology is one of the most fascinating and rewarding aspects of breathwork. No two breathwork sessions are alike. We might come into contact with our unconscious thoughts and feelings, or gain new insights into our deepest desires. Perhaps we release a physical tension and notice how our whole torso suddenly fills breath in a way we've never experienced. Or, we might have creative ‘eureka’ moments and find practical solutions to problems. We might release emotional pain and physical tension, or experience a deep sense of bliss and relaxation. Sometimes, this can all happen in a single session. 

The more we practice, the more we start to tune into our unique breath pattern and improve it. Identifying and correcting unhelpful breathing patterns in our day to day lives is a big part of Inspirational Breathing. One thing you’ll learn is how to return to a ‘baby’s breath’. If you watch a baby breathe, you’ll notice their whole torso expands with the breath. They’re using their diaphragm and effortlessly filling their bodies with air. As adults, we’ve often strayed far from this physiologically efficient way of breathing.
 

As you read this, tune into your breath. Does it feel like your diaphragm is working effortlessly to help you fill your lungs with air? For most of us, the answer is no. Throughout life we develop unhelpful breathing patterns in response to our experiences. We all have breathing dysfunctions; we might be breathing up into our shoulders, with our secondary shoulder muscles taking the role of the diaphragm. Or, we might breath too far into our bellies and not be taking full breaths into the chest. 

 

As we develop a breathwork practice, we start to notice where our breath is stuck and work through those tensions to improve our breath pattern. Learning to breathe more fully can have profound effects on our lives. Many people who practice breathwork report finding it easier to regulate their nervous systems, process emotions, improve lung capacity,  and tap into more energy and zest for life.