Have you had trouble sleeping lately?
Breathing for me is a way of life now, I owe it so much. We all have power to use this magical modality; Breathwork!
Sleeping is for us humans, one of the most important aspects of our lives. We spend 1/3 of our life doing it or attempting to. It’s what replenishes our energy, mind and muscles, it’s the ultimate rest.
So many of us never get a good nights sleep. There can be something on your mind, thinking about something someone has said, thinking about the future or the past, maybe you’re excited for a festival you’re going to attend on the weekend; even looking at your phone watching tv until late. All of those actions and thoughts have an effect on your sleep. How does Breathwork help with sleeping? Let me tell you.
I think we all have 15 minutes spare before bed, where we are not busy running around working, on our phone, watching tv.
This is the time where you lay down on your bed, sit upright at the end of your bed or get a yoga mat, sit on the carpet and get into a meditative position.
These are all a great way to start 15 minutes of conscious breath before bed.
Here are some breathing techniques that are great before bed;
Alternate nasal breathing
Boxer Breathing
Samavritti (1:1 ration breathing)
Consciously breathing at your own pace is a wonderful way to breathe.
All these practices can be done through the nose, when we breathe through the nose nitric oxide is released which is necessary to increase carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood, which in turn what releases oxygen (O2).
Breathing through the nose engages your diaphragm, meaning it will stimulate the vagus nerve which actives the para-sympathetic nervous system. The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body, which oversees a vast array of crucially bodily functions, including control of mood, immune response, digestion and heart rate. This nasal breathing will play a big part in you having a great nights sleep.
Remember while using these techniques, make sure you’re comfortable, let yourself invite in any thoughts, feelings, emotions, don’t hold judgment on any of them just let them pass through your body and mind. Breathing light and subtle, you do not want to be activating your sympathetic nervous system which is fight or flight response.
Breathing through your nose while you sleep, placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth and also can tape your mouth shut, which I have done before, it works wonders!