DO YOU BREATHE DEEPLY?
How diaphragmatic breathing can support your heart, calm your nervous system and
enhance your wellbeing naturally.
Have you ever stopped to pay attention to how you breathe?
Breathing is something we do automatically every minute of every day, yet many of us rarely stop to think about whether we are breathing well. The way we breathe can have a significant impact on our overall health and wellbeing.
One of the simplest changes you can make is to breathe through your nose whenever possible. Your nose acts as a natural filter, helping to warm, moisten and clean the air before it reaches your lungs.
Many studies have shown that breathing is not only essential for respiration, but also plays an important role in supporting healthy circulation. When you breathe deeply using your diaphragm, the large muscle located beneath your lungs, you help support the movement of blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the body.
The diaphragm works closely with the heart and circulatory system. As it moves during deep breathing, it creates natural pressure changes within the chest and abdomen that assist blood flow back to the heart. Some experts even describe this action as a gentle massage for the heart. By supporting circulation, deep diaphragmatic breathing may help the cardiovascular system to work more efficiently and can contribute to relaxation and lower stress levels.
Take a moment right now and notice how you are breathing.
Are your shoulders lifting with each breath? Is your chest expanding before your abdomen? Are you clenching your jaw or holding tension in your body?
If so, try this simple breathing exercise:
Place your hands on your lower belly and gently inhale through your nose. Allow your lower abdomen to expand first beneath your hands. Then let the breath continue upwards into your chest. When you exhale, release the air slowly and completely, allowing your body to soften and relax.
At first, this way of breathing may feel unfamiliar, especially if you are used to shallow chest breathing. However, with regular practice, diaphragmatic breathing can become more natural and comfortable.
By learning to breathe more deeply and consciously, you are supporting your body’s natural ability to circulate blood and fluids efficiently. This simple daily habit can help to reduce tension, improve relaxation and support your overall wellbeing.
Supporting Your Wellbeing Between Reiki Sessions
While Reiki can help bring the body and mind into a deeply relaxed state, conscious breathing is something you can use every day. Bringing awareness to your breath for just a few minutes can help you slow down, release tension and reconnect with the present moment.
In Reiki, we often talk about the importance of allowing life force energy to flow freely throughout the body. Deep, conscious breathing can be a wonderful way to support this process. When we are stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, our breathing often becomes shallow and restricted. By slowing down and breathing more deeply, we can encourage a greater sense of balance, supporting the flow of energy while helping oxygen, blood and lymphatic fluid move efficiently throughout the body.
Just as Reiki encourages a state of balance and relaxation, conscious breathing can help support the free flow of life force energy while also improving circulation and promoting a sense of calm and wellbeing.
Think of it as a simple act of self-care that supports the sense of balance and calm you experience during your Reiki session. The more often you practise conscious breathing, the easier it becomes to recognise when stress is building and gently guide yourself back to a more relaxed state.
There are also many different breathing techniques that use specific counting patterns and timings to achieve different effects. Popular examples include Box Breathing, the 4-7-8 Breathing Method and Coherent Breathing. These techniques are easy to explore online and may help with relaxation, focus and stress management.
So today, take a moment to pause and breathe.
Your body does it automatically and we often take the air we breathe for granted, but giving your breath a little attention may be just what you need.
🌿 ⋆｡‧˚ʚ♡ɞ˚‧｡⋆ 🌿
At Courtyard Natural Healing, I encourage clients to explore simple self-care practices between sessions. Deep breathing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support your wellbeing every day, helping you carry a sense of calm, balance and vitality into your daily life. Sometimes the smallest changes can have the biggest impact.
Taking a few moments each day to breathe deeply may be one of the simplest gifts you can give yourself.