Yoga and Breathing

As a yoga teacher, meditation teacher, and breathing coach, I know how valuable our breath is to our health and well-being. And it’s not just a question of inhaling and exhaling, but of doing it correctly. Learning to breathe well is essential. By understanding the mind-body connection, we can give it the importance it deserves in our lives. Our mind, thoughts and mood affect our breathing, and our breathing affects our body.

Re-educate your body-mind

Of course, breathing is an involuntary physiological function, and essential for life. But we can act voluntarily and consciously, using different techniques, to maximise its benefits.

With yoga breathing, you can re-educate your body-mind to use and improve breathing for its own sake. Being aware of the breath also helps you to be present in the here and now and to find the balance and well-being that we all want.

As you see, breathing is a very powerful tool. Learning to breathe is one more opportunity to listen to the body. Sometimes we forget, but the way we treat our body will have consequences for our metabolism.

Breathing is important in all stages of life. For adult women, it can have several repercussions.

The importance of breathing in menopause

Menopause is a totally normal physiological stage in a woman’s life, although for many women it has more consequences than for others. The symptoms associated with menopause can affect quality of life.

Some studies show a progressive decrease in lung function that accelerates in menopause. These restricted breathing problems can make it difficult to fully expand the lungs when inhaling. Menopause can also cause breathlessness, lessen the ability to work, and increase tiredness.

Among the possible causes of this accelerated loss of lung function could be the hormonal changes that occur during menopause, similar to changes implicated in osteoporosis.

It is true there is no effective menopause treatment for all women, nor has the magic remedy been found to alleviate disorders. But some people believe that menopause symptoms can be less pronounced with a more positive attitude and relaxation. And to find that attitude, it is essential to learn to breathe. But it is one thing to breathe unconsciously and another to take advantage of the many benefits that breathing correctly has for the body. So we are going to take the opportunity to alleviate some symptoms of menopause through breathing.

Alleviate menopausal symptoms through breathing

By learning the different breathing techniques, hot flashes, palpitations, anxiety, sweating, dizziness, fatigue and insomnia can be relieved. It will give you vital energy and calm. Breathing will improve your concentration, and the digestive, cardio-circulatory and hormonal systems. It will also improve the oxygenation of the body’s tissues, leading to better physical well-being. Of course, lung capacity increases.

Facilitate mental health 

At this stage we can suffer a lot of stress and insecurity. Being able to control anxiety with breathing brings us closer to that balance. It also leads to  healthier emotional responses that allow us to face menopause with a more positive attitude. We will be less afraid of change and fully enjoy the entrance to maturity with more confidence, more connected with ourselves, which will undoubtedly enhance satisfaction.

A basic technique

Any relaxation technique emphasizes the importance of learning to breathe and there are many and varied breathing exercises. A very simple practice to perform, and which you can do whenever you need it, is conscious breathing.

For a moment, stop what you are doing, and take three deep, conscious breaths. Inhale and exhale deeply through your nose, observe, smile and continue with what you were doing. How do you feel now?

 

“Air is your food and your medicine.” – Aristotle

 

Carola Laksmi

 

Body Health. Menopause. Mental Wellbeing. Yoga Women’s Health.