Getting a good night's sleep can often feel like an elusive dream. Studies show that over a third of adults in the UK report experiencing insomnia symptoms, with 10% suffering from chronic insomnia that significantly impacts their daily lives (The Sleep Charity, 2023). Whether it's trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling unrested, sleep difficulties can leave us feeling drained, irritable, and unable to function at our best.

You've heard the buzz about breathwork. Everyone from your yoga teacher to your favourite wellness influencer seems to be raving about its benefits. Less stress, better sleep, improved focus – the list goes on and on. But with so many different techniques and practices out there, it's easy to feel a bit overwhelmed. Where do you even start?

The good news is, you don't need to retreat to a mountaintop or master complex breathing patterns to experience the power of breathwork. Simple, accessible techniques can be seamlessly woven into your everyday life, offering support and balance amidst the hustle and bustle.

The train's crowded, the air feels heavy, and your mind is racing. It's just another stressful morning commute. You notice you are holding your breath. You take a deep breath. In, and out. You feel the air fill your lungs, your chest expanding and then falling. The world seems to slow down for a moment. Your thoughts settle, and a sense of calm washes over you. You've just tapped into the power of breath awareness.

Breathwork classes and workshops seem to be popping up everywhere lately. From trendy city studios to peaceful online retreats, it feels like everyone's talking about the power of conscious breathing. And with this newfound popularity come some pretty big promises – less stress, healed trauma, even a deeper spiritual connection. It's exciting to see breathwork getting attention, but it's important to be realistic too. Some of these claims might be a little too good to be true, and it can be hard to know what to believe, especially when you are first starting off.