Breathing exercise: A simple yet powerful tool for well-being. Reduce stress and increase calm through the transformative power of your breath!
What was the very first act of your life?
~ ~ A deep breath in ~ ~
(This happened just before you cried).
And what will be the very last act of your life?
~ ~ A deep breath out ~ ~
& everything that happens in between…
Is what we call LIFE.
Breath is life.
Every single breath is life-sustaining. Yet, we often overlook this simple act because it’s controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which means that it requires no thought.
But what if we were to consciously focus on breathing?
Well, keep reading ‘cause things are about to get fascinating!
What is a breathing exercise?
Breathing exercises, also known as pranayamas, involve consciously controlling how we inhale and exhale to varying degrees or patterns. There are so many breathing exercises out there, and each will provide a unique host of benefits. For example, certain exercises can be used to calm the mind, while others will energize the body.
A yogic espresso, if you will ☕
Choosing the right breathing technique—at the right time—will make a world of a difference with your breathwork experience.
You wouldn't want to build up more energy in the middle of a panic attack, right?
Right.
Now, imagine each breathing exercise as a personalized (gentle) workout for your mind-body system. Just as different gym machines target specific muscles (think shoulder press vs glute kickback), each breathing exercise will also have a specific effect on your system. And much like regular exercise, consistent practice will always yield the best results.
What is a deep breathing exercise?
Most people take short, shallow breaths. And this can actually cause distress, signaling sensations of stress, tension, and anxiety throughout the body. Deep breathing (or yogic breathing) is a long, deep breath. Rather than staying in the chest, oxygen gets carried all the way down into the belly, which signals the nervous system to calm down. Actually, have you ever noticed how a baby breathes? Healthy babies take full, deep breaths naturally. You’ll want to try the belly breath exercise to reconnect with those early, youthful breaths—they’re fab for your mental and physical health!
Types of breathing exercises
If you’re feeling spontaneous, I really recommend checking out the Art of Living’s free #TryThisBreath journey. You’ll get to learn a new breathing technique over six days, and you’ll get to personally experience a wide variety of benefits from increased calm and focus to reduced stress and worry. You can check it out here.
What people are sharing:
"I tried the first breathing exercise, and it did everything it said. I felt a calming of my mind, which had become very difficult to feel over the last two decades."
-Graham
Breathing exercises for anxiety
If you could reduce your everyday anxiety AND clinical anxiety through the power of your breath…would you breathe it?
If you answered YES, meet my ultimate life-hack: SKY Breath Meditation.
Supported by numerous studies from institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford and published in over 100 peer-reviewed journals, the SKY Breath Meditation technique has helped reduce anxiety and stress for millions of people across the globe—including me.
Check out some of these amazing stats:
And click here to learn more about the research.
What people are sharing:
"I really wanted something to help me with anxiety, to attain some type of peace. After doing the SKY technique, I just got so happy for no reason. And I hadn't experienced that in a long time."
- Jake M.
Breathing exercises for sleep
What if you could improve your sleep by a whopping 218% simply by adjusting your breathing?
Insomniacs, beware because the SKY Breath Meditation technique could very well ruin your sleepless nights! Research has shown that quality of sleep can improve from the very first day of practice. And nope, that headline just above wasn’t a typo. Studies on the SKY technique noted that deep sleep cycles improved by 218% with regular practice.
Check out this short video to learn more:
Diaphragmatic breathing exercises
Diaphragmatic breathing focuses on—you guessed it—the diaphragm region. This large muscle, located just below the lungs, can help increase your lung capacity. With deep inhalations and deep exhalations, this type of breathing activates the parasympathetic system, which can help to reduce stress and anxiety. Something fun to note is diaphragmatic breathing can be practiced laying down in corpse pose / savasana, or in a seated position.
Breathing exercises for yoga
A commonly used breathing exercise during yoga practice is called victory breath, also known as ocean breath or ujjayi in Sanskrit. This particular technique activates the vagus nerve, which calms the entire body and nervous system, allowing yogis to flow into the postures or asanas with more ease and peace of mind.
Mindfulness breathing exercises
Mindfulness breathing exercises typically involve deep breathing, and they’re accompanied by the practice of mindfulness. This means that the mind remains focused on each inhalation and exhalation, bringing the mind into the present moment. While mindfulness breathing exercises do have their benefits, I have to admit that these are not my favorite. I much prefer techniques that quiet the mind, rather than keep it active. (Life is so busy, you know?)
Breathing exercises for kids
How I wish I learned breathing exercises when I was a kid!
I’ve had the pleasure of becoming a SKY Schools teacher, and I love how their programs integrate breathwork and meditation as part of the school curriculum. One of my favorite techniques is called candle breath, which increases focus and lung capacity while reducing stress.
Fun fact: In a recent SKY Schools study, students who practiced SKY Breath Meditation experienced an astounding 800% increase in honor roll at their school (!)
Breathing exercises for stress
As you can probably see, the SKY technique is KING in my world.
Studies have shown that cortisol levels can drop by up to 60% with SKY practice. I’ve personally experienced immeasurable improvements with my mental health and physical health, thanks to this powerful and deeply transformative practice. My baseline stress levels have completely shifted!
Breathing exercises for beginners
In my 20 years of exploring breathing exercises, I can confidently say that the SKY Breath Meditation technique is…
The cream of the breathing crop.
I sometimes wonder how different my life would have been if I discovered it sooner. Just imagine what a full decade of less stress and more inner peace could look like (I’ll save that thought for another blog…).
So I won’t beat around the bush.
Go for SKY.
Start your breathing journey on the right track with a science-backed technique. And it’s practiced by millions across 180 countries! Reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, a stronger immune system, and more energy levels are literally just a SKY breath away.
