Breathwork Healing
Week 1 & 2 Breathwork Homework
Never practice while driving, or while in or near water.
Coffee Category
Use upon waking, before exercise
Up-regulating > 20 breaths per minute.
When you breathe at the rate of 20 breaths per minute or more, it stimulates your sympathetic nervous system, which is ideal before exercise, before busy or task-related work, and also in the morning.
Rapid breathing reduces CO2 in the bloodstream, which leads to constriction of your breathing passageways and veins, so it should be practiced briefly, with care, and only at appropriate times.
Water Category
Use in the afternoon, before a meeting, after eating, during yoga
Balanced Breathing: 4-6 breaths per minute.
When you breathe 4-6 breaths per minute, it has an adaptogenic effect on your nervous system. If you’re up, it will bring you down; if you’re down, it will bring you up.
You can practice Water Breath standing, seated, lying down, and even while driving, though that's not recommended. Like drinking a glass of water, it’s always safe, always appropriate, and always healthful.
Advanced Practice
Tea Category
Use in the evening, after eating, before bed, with care to reduce anxiety
Down-Regulating Breath: < 4 breaths per minute.
When you reduce your breath below 4 breaths per minutes, it triggers a strong parasympathetic (rest and digest nervous system response, reduces your heart rate, reduces activity in skeletal muscles, and improves digestion.
This type of breathing is great after meals, in the evening, and most-commonly, right before bed. This practice should be done seated or lying down, and never while driving or doing anything standing or active.
It’s extremely common for students to fall asleep while using Tea Category breathing exercises, so it should be used with care, only when appropriate.
