Breathwork: The Ultimate Self-Care Practice
I've written many articles and taught many classes on the art of self-care and why it's so important. And while there are so many ways to practice self-care, breathwork is one that I've found to be essential and incredibly powerful.
So let's dive in to what self-care means, why it's important, how to implement a self-care practice and why breathwork is a great place to start.
What is self care?
Self-care is nurturing and taking care of one's own physical, mental and emotional health through various practices such as relaxation, stress management and positive lifestyle choices. It is about taking the time to do things for yourself that bring joy, fulfillment and wellbeing. And oftentimes, the most effectice forms of self-care are when we shift from a state of "doing" to one of "being".
Why is it important?
Self care is important because it helps us to take care of our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can help us to reduce stress and make us feel more balanced and happier in our lives. It can help us to find the energy to give more to our loved ones and professional commitments. Self care also helps us to stay motivated and to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances.
How do you implement a self care practice?
Make time for yourself: Guess what? Self care is NOT selfish! Set aside time each day and each week to focus on yourself. Whether it’s an hour in the evening, 15 minutes in the morning, or a Sunday afternoon, make sure that you reserve a few hours to relax and have “me” time. An empty cup has nothing to give. Take time to fill your cup. Schedule it on your calendar like you schedule all your other important meetings!
Set boundaries: Ensure that you set and keep boundaries between yourself, your work, your family, and other relationship. See my article on how to set healthy boundaries.
Find your passion: Find something that you are passionate about and do it on a regular basis. Maybe it’s cooking, gardening, yoga, running, or a craft.
Spend time outdoors: Spend time outdoors and in nature. Go for a walk, sit in the park, or take a bike ride. Getting in nature is incredible grounding. If you can be barefoot on the earth, that's even better. But regardless, prioritize getting outside.
Declutter: Reduce physical and mental clutter by organizing your environment and letting go of things that no longer serve you.
Establish a routine: Establish a routine that includes activities that nourish your mind, body, and spirit. That may be enjoying a cup of tea while reading a good book, gratitude journaling in the morning, or practicing breathwork everyday.
Why is breathwork a good self care practice?
Breathwork is an excellent self care practice because it offers all the things you want a self care practice to offer! It reduces stress, improves sleep, and boosts energy levels, as well as provides a host of other benefits.
Breathwork has been found to help with depression and anxiety, promote a sense of calm, improve mood and overall psychological wellbeing, improve concentration and focus, and increase resilience and adaptability.
Breathwork encourages the body to enter a relaxed, meditative state and to find balance, allowing us to connect to our inner strength.
So, what are you waiting for?!? Get started with my Arise & Unwind Breathwork Starter Bundle here >>
