The body will always do the best it can if only we allow it, and the breath is the quickest, most powerful tool we have at our disposal to access this wisdom and promote great loving health and vitality, spiritually, emotionally and psychologically. Breathwork describes various types of therapies that utilise different breathing patterns, techniques and functional breathing exercises to improve physical, mental, and emotional health. Breathing is the singularly most important thing we do; it is the first thing we do in this life and the last and it supports each and every one of us every step along the way. The breath knows all of our secrets, how the body reacts and responds, it knows our joy, our sorrow, our fear, our rage, our stress, our hopes, our disappointments, our triumphs and our love. Consider any activity where humans are performing at their optimal level and you will find great breathing techniques at the heart and foundation of their success. This is what breathwork offers, a contributory supporting mechanism structured to support your specific needs. Most adults breathe poorly: breaths are too shallow, too quick, we hold our breath, mouth breathe, hold stress and tension in our bodies, all of which impairs this primary function. Every cell and system in the body requires oxygen to function and improved breathing techniques not only support greater mental clarity, they also relieve stress, anxiety, release symptoms of trauma, lower blood pressure, improve heart rate variability and lung function, support good digestion, cell regeneration, core muscle tone, delivery of nutrients, support your immune system, reduce depression and the possibility of burnout, help to manage chronic pain, regulate fatigue, increase focus, creativity and performance. Participants often experience breathwork as a grounding, life affirming, connection to the body and inner self. It is releasing, and leaves the breather freer to perform at their very highest level, with increased productivity, motivation, resilience and improved emotional, mental and physical health. I specifically work with a combination of Conscious Connected Breathwork, inquiry, movement, vocalisation, felt sense and functional breathing exercises. This helps to flush your system and invigorate your cells with energising oxygen. It activates and regulates your nervous system allowing you the breather to release emotional energy that may be stuck deep in the body, and to reach a place of stillness. CCB leads to a state of transient hypo frontality where the prefrontal cortex of the brain, responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, intelligence and emotional regulation, temporarily goes offline. The analytical and critical mind is switched off while powerful neurotransmitters for growth, love and peace are switched on. The body is able to release previous effects and impacts of trauma, stress, and anxiety, while the brain develops new neural pathways and reorganises itself achieving a state of peace, calm and tranquillity. For me it is being in the eye of the hurricane, flowing with the energy rather than being caught up in the hurricane itself, reacting to life from a position of stress and fear. We can literally breathe the change we want to be and change the way we think, act and behave. We develop neuroplasticity. Breathwork allows the participant to develop the very base foundation of a healthy system, it’s your moment-to-moment fuel, so why wouldn’t you want to do it well and reap all the benefits that come with that? With the breath I can communicate with my conscious, subconscious, unconscious and programme my brain. The conscious breath brings me totally into the present moment, not dwelling on the past or projecting into the future, bringing with it calm, relaxation, choice and power. And breathe
Eddy Brittain
Alchemy of Breath Facilitator
