Posts In: breathing

I have been so incredibly fortunate to study at Breathing School with the iconic Ben Wolff at the Shala in London. He is incredibly knowledgeable in the fields of neuroscience and clinical hypnotherapy but has spent the last 10 years studying the effects of the breath on our health, well being and our brain waves. 

So how can I spend 30 hours studying something we all know how to do?

Well, to be honest I did wonder this when I began too. But now I’ve completed the Breathing School course I feel I have barely scratched the surface. As a species we have become incredibly lazy in utilising full belly breaths the way we did when we were babies. Have you ever watched a baby sleep? Seen the rise and fall of their belly as they breathe? Later on in life we seem to lose this skill, choosing instead to only breathe into the top part of our lungs. And then there’s the speed in which we breathe.. actually the optimum is only 6 breaths a minute! Give it a go, I bet you’re not breathing at that rate are you? I certainly wasn’t. 

Then there’s the mouth breathing…..

So many of us are mouth breathers now and actually find it difficult to revert back to nasal breathing. Nasal breathing is antimicrobial, antibacterial and antiviral, providing our body’s first line of defence. Even more important in today’s situation. 

Utilising belly breathing and properly engaging the diaphragm increases the body’s ability to use oxygen by 500% by increasing the blood circulation to the brain. It also helps the body’s ability to use nitrous oxide, the pathogen responsible for oxygen delivery. Up to 20% more oxygen is available to nasal breathers than mouth breathers too. Isn’t that insane? We can just make this small adjustment and our health will benefit no end. 

So that was just the basic breathing part of the course, there was so much more!

Ben introduced us to specific techniques utilising the breath than can help us with anxiety, panic attacks, grief, Long Covid, hypertension, menopause, pain… and the list goes on. 

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So lockdown has been long and dull without being about to teach in person. But I have utilised my time having enrolled on some fabulous courses. In a previous life pre-kids, I worked as a Senior Dental Nurse in one of the most prestigious Dental Hospitals in the country. Although fantastic for my career at the time, it did mean we were referred many difficult and challenging cases including those with Head and Neck Cancer. To cut a long story short, although heart breaking at times, being part of the recovery process was so rewarding.

How can Yoga for Cancer help you? Even if you’re battling chronic fatigue.. there’s a pose and breath technique for that.

When I became a yoga teacher, I did so because I love it so completely and really need you all to experience how wonderful your body can feel! Adding Yoga for Cancer to the list of services I can offer makes me feel kind of complete, if that makes sense. Suddenly I feel like I’ve come full circle back to the parts of my life that gave me the most satisfaction. But this is all about me isn’t it? So what can Yoga for Cancer do for you, how can it help you or someone that you know who is on this journey?

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