Article written by Mai CopsøeLifestyle mentor, embodiment guide, breathwork facilitator, women's mentor. It may seem redundant to write about the importance of our breath. Everyone knows that breathing is the key to being alive – without it, we would die within minutes. But the fact is that breath is far more powerful than most of us realize, if only we use it consciously. Our breathing is extraordinary, yet it is also commonplace, because even though our breath is life-giving on all levels, we breathe all the time without thinking about it. We have never lived a day without our breath; the air is just there – completely free – so we rarely think about it. And many of us don't actually know what we are capable of doing with our breath when we use it consciously. Therefore, it can be difficult not to take it for granted or to fully utilize it. So, read on and be reminded of or inspired to explore the power of your breath. Breath affects the physical, emotional, and mental body Our breathing is the bridge between the head and the body, between the external outside of us and the internal within us, and likewise between the spiritual and the human. Although most of us have mostly learned about the lungs and the vital aspect of breathing, breath has a much broader effect. The respiratory system affects our muscles, organs, blood, tissues, digestion, nervous system, cognitive function, and much more. Therefore, breath affects and is affected by both our mental and emotional state as well as our physical state. For an ordinary adult at rest, we breathe between 12 and 20 times per minute. The muscles we engage with our breath are activated, while those we don't engage can become inactive and wither. Therefore, our general breathing affects our muscle activation and posture. Generally, we are driven by oxygen, in the same way our phones are driven by electricity. But of course, we are a little more magical than phones, because through the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the plant world, we are part of life's larger cycle. If we allow ourselves to focus on this larger aspect while breathing, we can experience being completely connected to life itself, to nature and everything around us. In this way, we can go from being in our own little bubble to actually being connected to all living things. If we surrender to this experience, it is truly extraordinary and can completely change our perspective. It helps us to see things in a clearer light, where small trifles become insignificant. But it requires us to tune into our breathing and let our everyday lives and daily worries fade away for a while. You can shape your health and your reality through your breath Breath is unique in the sense that it is the only autonomous system in the body that we have direct control over. That is, breathing is the only function in the body that happens completely automatically, but which we can also control with our consciousness if we wish. A nice way to think about it is that through breath, you talk to your body at a cellular level. Depending on how much air we can bring into our system, and how much life we can give to our cells, we can go from merely surviving/existing to feeling full of life. When we breathe consciously, we can help the body take in more air and relax. In fact, deep breathing or focusing on the breath can help us calm the nervous system by activating our parasympathetic nervous system. This means functions like digestion and sleep are prioritized, whereas in a state of stress in the body, they are deprioritized in favor of mobilizing energy for arms and legs or engaging in rumination. When we are calm and in a state of safety in the body, we also have access to parts of our brain where we can reflect and be creative. Through breathing, we can therefore actively help ourselves to change or shift our thoughts, feelings, and even our consciousness. And the good thing about your breathing is that it is always with you. No matter what situation you are in, you always have the opportunity to calm your entire body and soul. To influence the nervous system towards calmness, you can try to keep your focus on your breathing and the physical sensations you experience in your body. When we breathe unconsciously, often the air doesn't reach the stomach, and the breath becomes shallow. But by simply placing a hand on your stomach and feeling how you can allow the air to expand and contract your abdomen for 5 minutes, you help your body feel calm and secure. The medicine of the air element brings transformation and energy Air is a catalyst for change and transformation. Without air, there is no fire, water, or earth. Air simply influences all other elements and is crucial to how they develop. It is the same with humans. The lack of air will kill us faster than the absence of any other element. Psychologically, our thoughts and emotions, like air, are changeable aspects of our minds that reflect our ability to move with life's ups and downs. At the same time, air is crucial for us to develop and move – and activating your breath is activating your life force. In fact, it is said that 80 percent of our metabolic energy comes from breathing, while only 20 percent comes from food. Our breath is, therefore, a huge source of energy. Air is the element associated with movement. Specifically, it manifests in the movement of our muscles, the pulsation of the heart, the expansion and contraction of the lungs, and the movements in the abdominal wall and intestines. In fact, the amount of oxygen we are able to absorb is crucial for our physical performance, but also for our mortality rate and quality of life as we age. A higher lung capacity means that with each breath, we bring more oxygen to the cells, and therefore need less energy to perform physical work. With better lung capacity, for example, we become less exhausted from walking up stairs or carrying our groceries in daily life, because we have more energy to give. Our lung capacity is therefore crucial for us to be independent longer into old age. Fortunately, this is something we can influence ourselves. The way to increased lung capacity is not just through deep breaths, but specifically through training it over time. This is done, for example, through interval training on a rowing machine, bike, or by running. Lung capacity affects us throughout life; the younger we are when we start to sharpen it, the better. But it naturally requires continuous practice. 4 breathing techniques you can explore for better health and quality of life Pranayama Pranayama are ancient, sacred breathing techniques originating from yoga practice in India. Prana means breath or life force, while yama means control. There are many expressions of pranayama. Some work rhythmically with the breath and increase energy in the body, while others work more sensually. Some methods focus on the head to create more mental clarity, and others are directly aimed at calming the nervous system. Although there is great diversity in expression, all pranayama methods aim to induce a meditative state, reduce stress, increase lung capacity, and bring clarity to body, soul, and mind. If you're seeking more energy in your body, you can explore the technique, Agni Prana (fire breath from Kundalini yoga). If you're looking for mental clarity, try Anuloma Viloma (alternate nostril breathing). To bring inner physical warmth and calm your nervous system, you can explore Ujjayi pranayama (ocean breath). There are many, many more techniques; these are just a few, so feel free to explore. Breathwork In recent years, breathwork has become popular. This form of breathing exercise has gained traction in fitness studios, online classes, and 1-on-1 instruction. As with pranayama, there are many different forms of breathwork, but common to them all is that they consciously alter our breathing pattern in a way that affects the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2) in our system. Often, it works by us taking in more oxygen and building up more CO2 in the body through a specific rhythm. This allows us to temporarily hold our breath for longer while our heart rate decreases. Physiologically, the benefits of this can include improved endurance and recovery during exercise. Emotionally and psychologically, many find that it lowers their levels of anxiety and depression while increasing energy levels. Breathwork also has the power to give us magical, transcendent experiences. This is always a hugely meaningful experience, the effect of which often makes a difference in how we perceive ourselves, situations, or the world – in a positive way. Some experience that guided breathwork creates strong bodily or emotional reactions. The experience is individual and should not be described as detoxification or treatment of trauma. Choose a qualified instructor and stop if the exercise feels unsafe or uncomfortable. However, it is important to work with a professional here – regardless of the type of breathwork or goals you have with it. The complete breath The complete breath is actually also part of pranayama. The benefits of this form of breathing are that it creates calmness in the mind, soothes the nervous system, and increases our lung capacity. Because it is such a sensory experience, it can truly help us ground into our bodies, and often it creates an increased body awareness and presence with ourselves. That's why I choose to describe it separately. The complete breath is easiest to perform when lying on a mat. The legs can either be stretched out, or you can have your feet on the ground with knees bent. It is also a good idea to place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. From here, we first fill up with air in the lungs and chest, before then filling up with air in the abdomen. Once we have filled both lungs and abdomen, we briefly hold our breath, feeling how it almost tingles from within because we are so filled with air. Then we release the air, in the same way we filled up: first, we let the lungs empty, and then we let the abdomen lower by continuing to exhale. We can continue this for about 3-10 minutes, depending on how much you need to feel and calm yourself. Be aware that it can be difficult to perform this exercise if you are not used to breathing into your stomach. However, this is a fantastic exercise to activate your breath, and with practice, it will come, because you are designed to breathe this way. Box breathing Box breathing means we breathe like a box. In a lying position, we first inhale while internally counting slowly: 1-2-3-4, after which we hold our breath for the same amount of time, again by internally counting 1-2-3-4. When we exhale, we again empty our lungs to the count of 1-2-3-4, and with our lungs emptied, we then hold our breath again, and internally count 1-2-3-4. The reason this breathing technique is so good is that it is so simple. It is therefore a quick way to get the nervous system under control. Our deep, calm breathing has a soothing effect, while counting gives us a focal point. Especially if we feel anxiety or are having a panic attack, this technique can be fantastic for helping us return to safety and into our bodies. At the same time, it can always help us achieve more mental clarity, as our counting focus gives our brain a small break from thinking. You can do this exercise for 5 minutes or up to 15 minutes, but listen to your body and feel what you need. It's also always a good idea to set a timer. This makes it easier to surrender to the exercise without wondering how much time you're spending. "My mission is to support individuals and groups on their journey towards optimal health, well-being, and inner balance through holistic tools and guidance. I have found that when people start to focus on their own health and well-being, they are more likely to lead their lives with greater awareness. This often leads to increased impact at work and more ease in their lives generally – even in very stressful environments with high performance pressure and many responsibilities." - Mai Copsøe
Article written by Mai CopsøeLifestyle mentor, embodiment guide, breathwork facilitator, women's mentor. It may seem redundant to write about the importance of our breath. Everyone knows that breathing is the key to being alive – without it, we would die within minutes. But the fact is that breath is far more powerful than most of us realize, if only we use it consciously. Our breathing is extraordinary, yet it is also commonplace, because even though our breath is life-giving on all levels, we breathe all the time without thinking about it. We have never lived a day without our breath; the air is just there – completely free – so we rarely think about it. And many of us don't actually know what we are capable of doing with our breath when we use it consciously. Therefore, it can be difficult not to take it for granted or to fully utilize it. So, read on and be reminded of or inspired to explore the power of your breath. Breath affects the physical, emotional, and mental body Our breathing is the bridge between the head and the body, between the external outside of us and the internal within us, and likewise between the spiritual and the human. Although most of us have mostly learned about the lungs and the vital aspect of breathing, breath has a much broader effect. The respiratory system affects our muscles, organs, blood, tissues, digestion, nervous system, cognitive function, and much more. Therefore, breath affects and is affected by both our mental and emotional state as well as our physical state. For an ordinary adult at rest, we breathe between 12 and 20 times per minute. The muscles we engage with our breath are activated, while those we don't engage can become inactive and wither. Therefore, our general breathing affects our muscle activation and posture. Generally, we are driven by oxygen, in the same way our phones are driven by electricity. But of course, we are a little more magical than phones, because through the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the plant world, we are part of life's larger cycle. If we allow ourselves to focus on this larger aspect while breathing, we can experience being completely connected to life itself, to nature and everything around us. In this way, we can go from being in our own little bubble to actually being connected to all living things. If we surrender to this experience, it is truly extraordinary and can completely change our perspective. It helps us to see things in a clearer light, where small trifles become insignificant. But it requires us to tune into our breathing and let our everyday lives and daily worries fade away for a while. You can shape your health and your reality through your breath Breath is unique in the sense that it is the only autonomous system in the body that we have direct control over. That is, breathing is the only function in the body that happens completely automatically, but which we can also control with our consciousness if we wish. A nice way to think about it is that through breath, you talk to your body at a cellular level. Depending on how much air we can bring into our system, and how much life we can give to our cells, we can go from merely surviving/existing to feeling full of life. When we breathe consciously, we can help the body take in more air and relax. In fact, deep breathing or focusing on the breath can help us calm the nervous system by activating our parasympathetic nervous system. This means functions like digestion and sleep are prioritized, whereas in a state of stress in the body, they are deprioritized in favor of mobilizing energy for arms and legs or engaging in rumination. When we are calm and in a state of safety in the body, we also have access to parts of our brain where we can reflect and be creative. Through breathing, we can therefore actively help ourselves to change or shift our thoughts, feelings, and even our consciousness. And the good thing about your breathing is that it is always with you. No matter what situation you are in, you always have the opportunity to calm your entire body and soul. To influence the nervous system towards calmness, you can try to keep your focus on your breathing and the physical sensations you experience in your body. When we breathe unconsciously, often the air doesn't reach the stomach, and the breath becomes shallow. But by simply placing a hand on your stomach and feeling how you can allow the air to expand and contract your abdomen for 5 minutes, you help your body feel calm and secure. The medicine of the air element brings transformation and energy Air is a catalyst for change and transformation. Without air, there is no fire, water, or earth. Air simply influences all other elements and is crucial to how they develop. It is the same with humans. The lack of air will kill us faster than the absence of any other element. Psychologically, our thoughts and emotions, like air, are changeable aspects of our minds that reflect our ability to move with life's ups and downs. At the same time, air is crucial for us to develop and move – and activating your breath is activating your life force. In fact, it is said that 80 percent of our metabolic energy comes from breathing, while only 20 percent comes from food. Our breath is, therefore, a huge source of energy. Air is the element associated with movement. Specifically, it manifests in the movement of our muscles, the pulsation of the heart, the expansion and contraction of the lungs, and the movements in the abdominal wall and intestines. In fact, the amount of oxygen we are able to absorb is crucial for our physical performance, but also for our mortality rate and quality of life as we age. A higher lung capacity means that with each breath, we bring more oxygen to the cells, and therefore need less energy to perform physical work. With better lung capacity, for example, we become less exhausted from walking up stairs or carrying our groceries in daily life, because we have more energy to give. Our lung capacity is therefore crucial for us to be independent longer into old age. Fortunately, this is something we can influence ourselves. The way to increased lung capacity is not just through deep breaths, but specifically through training it over time. This is done, for example, through interval training on a rowing machine, bike, or by running. Lung capacity affects us throughout life; the younger we are when we start to sharpen it, the better. But it naturally requires continuous practice. 4 breathing techniques you can explore for better health and quality of life Pranayama Pranayama are ancient, sacred breathing techniques originating from yoga practice in India. Prana means breath or life force, while yama means control. There are many expressions of pranayama. Some work rhythmically with the breath and increase energy in the body, while others work more sensually. Some methods focus on the head to create more mental clarity, and others are directly aimed at calming the nervous system. Although there is great diversity in expression, all pranayama methods aim to induce a meditative state, reduce stress, increase lung capacity, and bring clarity to body, soul, and mind. If you're seeking more energy in your body, you can explore the technique, Agni Prana (fire breath from Kundalini yoga). If you're looking for mental clarity, try Anuloma Viloma (alternate nostril breathing). To bring inner physical warmth and calm your nervous system, you can explore Ujjayi pranayama (ocean breath). There are many, many more techniques; these are just a few, so feel free to explore. Breathwork In recent years, breathwork has become popular. This form of breathing exercise has gained traction in fitness studios, online classes, and 1-on-1 instruction. As with pranayama, there are many different forms of breathwork, but common to them all is that they consciously alter our breathing pattern in a way that affects the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2) in our system. Often, it works by us taking in more oxygen and building up more CO2 in the body through a specific rhythm. This allows us to temporarily hold our breath for longer while our heart rate decreases. Physiologically, the benefits of this can include improved endurance and recovery during exercise. Emotionally and psychologically, many find that it lowers their levels of anxiety and depression while increasing energy levels. Breathwork also has the power to give us magical, transcendent experiences. This is always a hugely meaningful experience, the effect of which often makes a difference in how we perceive ourselves, situations, or the world – in a positive way. Some experience that guided breathwork creates strong bodily or emotional reactions. The experience is individual and should not be described as detoxification or treatment of trauma. Choose a qualified instructor and stop if the exercise feels unsafe or uncomfortable. However, it is important to work with a professional here – regardless of the type of breathwork or goals you have with it. The complete breath The complete breath is actually also part of pranayama. The benefits of this form of breathing are that it creates calmness in the mind, soothes the nervous system, and increases our lung capacity. Because it is such a sensory experience, it can truly help us ground into our bodies, and often it creates an increased body awareness and presence with ourselves. That's why I choose to describe it separately. The complete breath is easiest to perform when lying on a mat. The legs can either be stretched out, or you can have your feet on the ground with knees bent. It is also a good idea to place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. From here, we first fill up with air in the lungs and chest, before then filling up with air in the abdomen. Once we have filled both lungs and abdomen, we briefly hold our breath, feeling how it almost tingles from within because we are so filled with air. Then we release the air, in the same way we filled up: first, we let the lungs empty, and then we let the abdomen lower by continuing to exhale. We can continue this for about 3-10 minutes, depending on how much you need to feel and calm yourself. Be aware that it can be difficult to perform this exercise if you are not used to breathing into your stomach. However, this is a fantastic exercise to activate your breath, and with practice, it will come, because you are designed to breathe this way. Box breathing Box breathing means we breathe like a box. In a lying position, we first inhale while internally counting slowly: 1-2-3-4, after which we hold our breath for the same amount of time, again by internally counting 1-2-3-4. When we exhale, we again empty our lungs to the count of 1-2-3-4, and with our lungs emptied, we then hold our breath again, and internally count 1-2-3-4. The reason this breathing technique is so good is that it is so simple. It is therefore a quick way to get the nervous system under control. Our deep, calm breathing has a soothing effect, while counting gives us a focal point. Especially if we feel anxiety or are having a panic attack, this technique can be fantastic for helping us return to safety and into our bodies. At the same time, it can always help us achieve more mental clarity, as our counting focus gives our brain a small break from thinking. You can do this exercise for 5 minutes or up to 15 minutes, but listen to your body and feel what you need. It's also always a good idea to set a timer. This makes it easier to surrender to the exercise without wondering how much time you're spending. "My mission is to support individuals and groups on their journey towards optimal health, well-being, and inner balance through holistic tools and guidance. I have found that when people start to focus on their own health and well-being, they are more likely to lead their lives with greater awareness. This often leads to increased impact at work and more ease in their lives generally – even in very stressful environments with high performance pressure and many responsibilities." - Mai Copsøe
