Nervous system & the breath

Breathing is one of the fastest ways to mitigate stress in the autonomic nervous system. It gives us direct access to a system that is involuntary and reactive—that is, one that functions on its own without conscious thought. When we have a conscious relationship with our breath, we can shift the state of our nervous system in as little as 90 seconds. A relationship with the breath is a life-changing tool that can create the capacity to be with life’s challenges with the space and power to enable us to heal.

The nervous system speaks the language of tone of voice, touch and breath. In this post, I’ll share more about how breathing mirrors our psychological state and how to shift our breathing to support health and well-being.

What can our breathing patterns tell us about ourselves?

The breath can be an accelerator, brake, stabilizer and even a compass. It can give us energy when we are low, it can settle us when we are wired, and balance the nervous system when we are overwhelmed. Our breathing lets us know what nervous system state we are in through its location, quality and cadence. We breathe about 20,000 breaths a day, most of those outside our conscious awareness. It takes daily practice to cultivate a relationship to the breath but with practice, our breath can become an ally and companion through the waves of life. 

Our ability to ride the waves of life is also reflected in the health and dynamism of the breath. A supple, responsive, dynamic breath is an extension of a nervous system that has the capacity to respond to life’s challenges. More here.