Breathwork is a natural and powerful tool used to transform an individual’s life and health. Breathwork involves a number of breathing techniques comprising both ancient practices and modern techniques. There are over twenty types of breathwork techniques, with each having its own set of benefits. However, breathwork requires you to have the proper mindset, and technique for it to work. This is why it is always recommended to get help from a breathwork coach. A breathwork coach enables their clients to identify the problems in one’s breathing, and how they can improve it.
If you are just discovering breathwork, this article will give you a detailed description of what breathwork is and what is the role of a breathwork coach.
What is Breathwork?
Breathwork makes use of multiple techniques by incorporating the intentional use of one’s breath. At its essence, a person learns to regulate the flow of their breath to maintain a healthy balance between their mind and body. Practices of breathwork range from simple deep breathing to more advanced means of breathing.
Types of Breathwork
As I mentioned earlier, breathwork has several types including:
- Deep Abdominal Breathing
- 4-7-8 Breathing
- Alternate Nostril Breathing
- Breath of Fire
- Holotropic Breathing
1. Deep Abdominal Breathing
It involves long, deep breaths. You start by filling your body with air, just like one would inflate a balloon. As the individual exhales, their chest falls, and ribs and naval are pulled in. Deep abdominal breathing helps to stimulate the Vagus nerve, which sends the body, and the mind to relax.
2. 4-7-8 Breathing
This is usually done to fall asleep. The breathing practice involves inhaling and holding your breath for a couple of seconds before exhaling. In a way, it pauses your busy mind. The individual practicing this type of breathing starts by inhaling and counting to four. Afterward, they hold their breath for 7 seconds, or count, and exhale for 8 seconds. This prolonged exhale encourages the entire body to let go of the stress, and feel relaxed.
3. Alternate Nostril Breathing
The yoga breathing exercise involves breathing through one nostril at a time, while the other one is held shut, and vice versa. The individual, practicing alternate nostril breathing, breathes slowly. This practice
helps them concentrate on their breathing, which is usually ignored. This simple exercise helps to keep people calm. It is also great for maintaining heart, lung, and brain health.
4. Breath of Fire
This quick-paced, rhythmic breathing technique might have a bombastic name but is easy to practice. One needs to inhale and exhale quickly, without any pauses. However, one needs to master to get the maximum benefits of breath of fire. This breathing technique helps to strengthen your nervous system while increasing one’s resistance to anxiety and stress.
5. Holotropic Breathing
This is one of the most popular techniques among people wanting to improve their understanding of themselves. Holotropic breathwork is practiced by breathing quickly and evenly. This type of breathing then induces an alternate state which allows a deeper understanding of themselves. This technique is used to facilitate spiritual, mental, and physical healing.
How Can You Start Breathing Properly?
Many believe that breathwork is a matter of practice, and commitment. Although both are true, you still need to understand and develop the proper technique of breathing to extract maximum health benefits. This is where you must get help from a breathwork coach. A breathwork coach analyzes your breathing as a form of behavior and finds out the main problem in your breathing habit. The coach will provide you with sessions, and support throughout the learning process.
What does a Breathwork Coach Do?
A breathwork coach helps people to understand their breathing patterns, and improve their physiological and psychological health using breathwork. A breathwork coach works with their clients one-on-one, and sometimes in small manageable groups to assist them in learning breathwork to reach their infinite potential and transform their lives.
The coach usually teaches different breathwork techniques and helps their clients lead a happier and more fulfilling life. One needs to understand that a breathwork coach does not focus on breathing techniques only. They understand their client’s needs, to help them heal past trauma, improve the quality of sleep, increase focus and attention span, detach from negative thinking, and feel more connected to their inner self and intuition.
What Kind of Skills Does a Breathwork Coach Have?
Being a breathwork coach requires a lot more than just breathing. Firstly, the breathing coach needs to develop their practice. It means they should focus on a single breathwork technique that works best for them. Secondly, they should make that breathing technique a part of their daily life. Furthermore, a person looking to become a breathing coach can take a breathwork course which will equip them with the required skills, and knowledge to help train their clients and other coaches in the future.
Since the individual is going to become a breathwork coach, they need to focus on the latter part as well. Being a coach, one should have strong knowledge about safely working with clients, and how to overcome challenges effectively.
Characters of a Good Breathwork Coach
There are a few qualities that make a good breathwork coach:
1. They should be Grounded
It means a good breathwork coach is present and focused despite the intensity and chaos surrounding them. They need to be able to control their emotions and help their clients do the same.
2. They should be Compassionate
Compassion is an essential characteristic of a breathwork coach. They need to be empathetic towards their clients and understand their experiences.
3. They should be Aware
Apart from being aware of their surroundings, a good breathwork coach should be aware of their thoughts and energy.
Ending thoughts
The rising socio-political turmoil in the world has increased stress and anxiety among people. Breathwork is a safe and effective way of overcoming chaos. If you are passionate about helping people tap into their maximum potential, and live a healthy life, then breathwork coaching can be an excellent career path for you.
Breathwork is a type of active meditation that aims at helping people manage their depression while improving their overall well-being. With over 20 breathing techniques, a breathwork coach can master any one they like, and eventually teach their clients. Want to know more? Get in touch with the Breath Masters community!