You may notice that things are a little different around here. My newsletter has had a little facelift, and after some time away, this edition is its comeback.
But don’t worry, I’ll still be sharing my latest insights to help you live your best life, as well as to help navigate health, life itself, and live consciously.
I’ll start by sharing a tool that has changed the way I practise breathwork for the better!
Why Your Breath Is the True Foundation of Health
Before that, I want to remind you that our breath and how we breathe are vitally important for our overall health. While there is more of an emphasis on our breath now, and breathwork has become a global phenomenon, mostly thanks to leading experts like Wim Hof, Niraj Naik, and many others, I still have the feeling that when we think and talk about health, we instantly think of sleep, movement, and nutrition, and maybe for good reason too.
However, when we really think about it, we can go days without sleep and water, weeks without food, and even longer without exercise or physical activity.
Yet, how long can we go without our breath?! Or, if I were to put it another way, how long can we go without the need to breathe?
I hope you get my point!
Breath: The Remote Control for Your Mind and Body
Our breath is the mirror of our health. It is the remote control for our mind, body, and spirit, and through breath control, we can quickly learn to change our emotional and mental state, which gives us the ability to control our inner world.
And, when we can control our inner world, we have a better relationship with the outer world!
Furthermore, because our health is interconnected, sleep, exercise/movement, and nutrition all have a huge impact on our breathing and vice versa.
For example, there have been many studies that have found the profound effects of mindful eating, and that when we eat more mindfully, ideally by chewing our food between 20 and 30 times, we breathe at a much slower rate, taking in less air and hyperventilating less, which promotes digestion.
Nose Breathing vs Mouth Breathing During Exercise
On the topic of hyperventilation, when we hyperventilate during exercise, mostly via mouth breathing, we fatigue quicker and cause more stress in the body. And, from my own experience, when I started to become more conscious of this during my own workouts, especially long runs, and switched from mouth breathing to nose breathing, I noticed how I could push myself further, didn’t feel fatigued, and overall felt that I had more control.
I could go on and on about the power of the breath, and why it’s the remote control to our health, as mentioned earlier. And rest assured, if you’re interested in this topic, I will continue to explore it further in future editions as well as on my podcast. We already have many episodes on this topic, and I’m looking forward to what is to come.
The question is, what does this mean for our health?!
How to Use Breathwork to Improve Your Health
It means that we can use the power of the breath to improve our health, and breathwork practices are one of the main ways that we do this.
The challenge for many is that there are many different breathwork methodologies out there. And this can cause people to become confused and overwhelmed with what to practise and where to start.
They question if one is better than another, what’s the difference between breathwork and meditation, and when they do choose a methodology, if they are doing it right!
I know this because it’s part of the journey I’ve been on…
I’ve practised many methodologies and been around the houses.
And, while there is so much more for me to explore, I wouldn’t say that one breathwork method is better than another. It all depends on what you are looking for, and each method is a tool that we can use and add to our toolbox.
For example, some methods focus on cultivating energy, whereas others help to relax us. Some help us to change our emotional and mental state, and others are better for exercise and during movement.
I’ve found that each method has a purpose and a time to use it.
State: A Simple, Beginner-Friendly Breathwork App
And that’s why I love State, which is a new tool I’ve discovered that has a variety of breathwork methods available.
All methods are only between 3 and 5 minutes, which is perfect for those who want to practise breathwork but are time-restricted.
I’ve been using the app, which is available on iOS and Android, for two weeks now and have found it to be extremely powerful in helping to change my state.
I’m mostly using the ‘wake up’ method, which, as you can see from the screenshots above, is best used in the morning to gently transition into the day and boost productivity. They also have guided sessions to recentre and focus, feel alert, recover quickly, feel calm, and fall asleep.
Don’t get me wrong, my previous breathwork practice worked for me. And, I still utilise it. However, State has been a game changer these two weeks in its ability to get the benefits of breathwork in no time at all.
And, that’s why I had to recommend it and share it with you today!
So, if you’re curious about breathwork, want to start practising, are looking for a new routine, or just want to try something different but don’t know where to start or where to turn, State is the perfect app for you!
Download it here for iOS and click here for Android.
I’ve found it to be a game-changer! Let me know what you think!
PS. I’m not associated with the app in any way. It’s just helped me get the benefits of breathwork in less time. I hope you find it as valuable as I have!
Key Takeaways on Breathwork and the State App
- Breath as a Health Foundation: Your breath is more critical for immediate survival than food, water, or sleep, making it a fundamental pillar of your overall health and wellbeing.
- The Remote Control for Your Mind: You can use conscious breath control to quickly alter your emotional and mental states, giving you greater command over your inner world and improving how you interact with your surroundings.
- Nose Breathing for Exercise: Switching from mouth breathing to nose breathing during physical activity, like running, can help you push further, reduce fatigue, and feel more in control of your performance.
- Diverse Breathwork Methods: Different breathwork techniques serve unique purposes. Some are designed to energise you, while others promote relaxation or focus. The key is finding the right tool for what you need in the moment.
- Accessible Practice with State: The State app offers a simple way to integrate breathwork into your life with short, guided sessions (3-5 minutes) for various goals, such as waking up, calming down, or improving focus.
FAQs for The App Changing Breathwork
Why is breathing considered so fundamental to health?
Your breath is essential for life second by second. While you can survive for days without water or weeks without food, you can only go a few minutes without breathing. This makes proper breathing the true foundation of your physical and mental health.
How can breathwork change my mental or emotional state?
Your breath is directly linked to your nervous system. By consciously controlling your breathing patterns, you can send signals to your brain to either calm down or become more alert. This gives you a powerful, immediate tool to manage stress, anxiety, or low energy.
Is it better to breathe through my nose or mouth during exercise?
The article strongly suggests that nose breathing is more efficient for exercise. It helps you avoid hyperventilating, which can lead to quicker fatigue and more stress on the body. By breathing through your nose, you may find you have more endurance and control.
What is the State app?
State is a mobile app for iOS and Android designed to make breathwork simple and accessible. It provides a variety of guided sessions, each lasting only 3 to 5 minutes, to help you achieve specific outcomes like feeling calm, energised, or focused.
Do I need a lot of time to practice breathwork?
No, you don’t. As highlighted by the State app, even a few minutes of focused practice can be incredibly powerful. Consistency is more important than duration, and finding a simple routine can make all the difference.
