Breathwork

At the Physical level:

• Triggers a relaxation response: Deep, slow breathing sends a message to your brain to relax, activating the parasympathetic nervous system
• It boosts lung volume and capacity which naturally diminish over time
• Dilates blood vessels: This relaxation response causes blood vessels to open wider, decreasing resistance and making it easier for the heart to pump blood.
• Lowers blood pressure and heart rate: With less resistance and a slower heart rate, your blood pressure decreases, and your body knows it can relax.
• Increases oxygen flow: Inhaling more deeply and fully allows more oxygen to enter your bloodstream, which helps energize your blood cells and improves circulation to your muscles and organs.
• Improves muscle function: Better circulation delivers more oxygen and essential nutrients to muscles, allowing them to function more efficiently. 
• Strengthens the diaphragm: Breathwork, especially diaphragmatic breathing, strengthens the diaphragm, the primary muscle of respiration. A strong diaphragm is crucial for healthy respiratory mechanics.
• Improves Core Stability: Proper diaphragmatic breathing engages the deep abdominal muscles and pelvic floor muscles, which are key components of the core. This engagement helps stabilize the spine and improves overall core stability.
• Improves Posture: By strengthening the core and reducing chronic tension in the neck, shoulders, and back muscles (which often become overactive with shallow, chest breathing), breathwork helps to maintain a neutral spine position and promotes an upright, healthy posture.
• Reduced Musculoskeletal Pain: Freeing the accessory breathing muscles in the neck and back from constant overwork can help alleviate tension and chronic pain

At the Emotional/Mental level:

• Every emotional state has a corresponding or associated breathing pattern. The way we breathe when we are peaceful, and calm is different than the way we breathe when we are angry and upset. 
• With breathwork and an energized, relaxed breath, suppressed and repressed emotions and sensations stored in the body come to the surface. This then gives people the opportunity to feel their feelings that they haven’t been aware of or been able to access before. Our issues are in our tissues.
• Also, by balancing the nervous system and activating the parasympathetic NS, breathwork enhances mental clarity, reduces stress and anxiety

At the Spiritual level:

• With a more balanced nervous system, breathwork facilitates states of expanded awareness, connection and insight as it calms the mind, reduces mental chatter.