Airwaves
A Breathwork Blog by Breathing Space
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Breathwork for Better Sleep
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.
Neuroception and Breathwork
Neuroception, an idea rooted in Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory, offers a framework for understanding how our nervous system unconsciously assesses safety and threat in our environment, shaping our physiological and behavioural responses. The interplay between our nervous system and our perception of the world has huge implications for how we experience the world and how we respond to breathwork practices.
Breathwork and the Nervous System
Your nervous system is a vast communication network within your body, responsible for everything you feel, think, and do. It's divided into two main parts: the central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (all the nerves that branch out from your brain and spinal cord). The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a key part of this peripheral system, and it's the one in charge of all the automatic functions you don't have to think about
What is Functional Breathwork?
When we think of breathing, we often take it for granted—a simple, automatic process that sustains life. But what if I told you that how you breathe could be impacting your energy levels, stress levels, and overall health? That's where functional breathing comes in.
I'll be honest; I never gave much thought to my breathing patterns until I started experiencing chronic fatigue and anxiety. I chalked it up to stress and a busy lifestyle, but as Benedict started Breathing Space, I became a lot more invested in breathwork. As I learned more about the mechanics of breathing and how it affects our bodies, I realized that my shallow, chest-centered breathing was contributing to my health issues.