Breathing
Breathwork Research and Application
An overview of what scientific evidence supports, common breathing dysfunctions and a sampling of effective breathwork exercises.
Meditation Basics
What Is Meditation? Meditation is an approach to training the mind, similar to the way fitness is an approach to training the body. Someone with no knowledge of fitness tools and methods may think her…
Breathe More Efficiently and Effectively While Exercising
Breathing is something we do every minute without actively or consciously thinking about it, but it’s a fascinating process that is essential to life. Here we look at some of the different breathing techniques and explain how you and your clients can harness the breath to calm the mind, fuel the body and gain a competitive edge.
May 2021 Question of the Month: Breathwork Practices
As a fitness professional, are you offering any breathwork practices? If yes, are you a yoga professional, or offering from other modalities?
Breathwork Practices Gaining Popularity
Breathing programs are entering the mainstream, as breathwork was named one of the top seven trends to influence wellness in 2021 and beyond.
Turn Up Mindful Exercise to Turn Down Stress
Research on coronavirus-related stress suggests a link between exercise and stress: those who keep movement up have better mental health outcomes.
HELP! I Can’t Meditate… I’ve Tried
It’s easy to understand how some folks can believe that statement to be true. It’s a lot like how some say, “I can’t exercise. I’m uncoordinated.” Or, “I can’t do yoga. My muscles are too tight.” It makes sense that when you believe there is only one way to accomplish something, it’s easy to feel defeated.
Deep Breathing and Mental Clarity
Next time you want to improve your ability to pay attention, you may want to observe your breathing. Findings from a study published in Psychophysiology (2018; doi:10.1111/psyp.13091) show that the locus coeruleus—the part of the brain that produces noradrenaline (also referred to as norepinephrine)—is directly affected by respiration. The study also shows that rates of inhalation and exhalation are related to attentional performance.
Pilates Breathing and the Core
Pilates breathing techniques not only provide training benefits during Pilates exercises, but also can be a beneficial practice when lifting heavier objects. Korean researchers at Cheongju University in Cheongju, Republic of Korea, wanted to determine the functional value of Pilates breathing exercises and core stabilization.
“How much do you coach or emphasize breathing during a client’s workout? What do you do?”
I encourage my clients to breathe when they are working out, as in life. Jokingly, I say, “Breathing is the first thing you learned in life, so please do not forget to do it over the next hour that we are exercising.”
Cuing Lateral Breathing
Breathing is one of the Pilates principles and a foundation for movement. Lateral breathing focuses on expanding the rib cage laterally “while maintaining a consistent inward pull of the deep abdominal muscles during inhalation and exhalation.”
Diaphragmatic Breathing & Neck Pain
Everyone from elite athletes to average clients can benefit from learning more about breathing or reprogramming the way they breathe. More specifically, by teaching them techniques that emphasize diaphragmatic breathing, you will help them meet their exercise goals.
Heart-Opening Breathing Practice
Welcome to Inner Idea. I’m Kelly McGonigal, and today we’ll be practicing a heart-opening breathing exercise.
The intention of this practice is to dissolve restrictions of the heart—both around the physical heart center
Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise in Reclining Position
During this opening restorative yoga pose, take the opportunity to describe the principles of restorative yoga to students who are new to class.
Guided Relaxation Script: Breathing the Body
When it comes to stress relief, we need all the help we can get. When you are centered, your students and clients also benefit. Whether you teach a group of people or one-on-one, the following guided relaxation is a great way to lead others in a full-body awareness exercise.