the science of breathing | #2
Hello Friends,
Welcome to Wednesday Wisdom where I share the many cool and interesting things that I come across in my pursuit of bettering myself everyday. Here are the things that I have discovered while studying this month’s theme and any other cool things I’m excited about. I hope this provides a little bit of entertainment and enlightenment into your life.
March Theme
How To Improve Your Health Through Your Breath
Your breath is a powerful tool that can shift your physiological state and keep you living a healthy life. Everyone is stressed and busy these days and having ways to cope with that is essential for your health. Chronic stress is a path that can lead to a life full of disease. Breathwork is a low cost exercise that can help you achieve optimal health. In the month of March I am diving into what the research says about the correlation between your breath and your wellness.
Breathwork App:
“Othership” breathwork app. This app has a very diverse range of breathwork practices. There are different journeys you can go on that meet you where you are at, whether you’re just starting out, or you are trying to create a deeper experience through your breath. The teachers are very good and I really like the music they play while you are practicing (good headphones are advised). These lessons have the ability to change my brain state very quickly, whether I’m trying to get a boost of energy, lessen my anxiety, or get ready for sleep.
Neurobiology of the breath:
In recent years, scientists have discovered brain regions that are connected to the rhythmicity of our breath and our arousal states (Pre-Botzinger Complex and Locus Coeruleus, respectively). These discoveries have provided evidence that your breath is a powerful regulator of your physiological state. This also has important clinical significance for people who suffer from anxiety, depression, panic attacks or trauma.
Podcast:
“Dr. Jack Feldman: Breathing for Mental & Physical Health & Performance” Huberman Lab podcast. A great conversation with the scientist who discovered the Pre-Botzinger Complex.
Short Article:
“Take a deep breath — no really, it will calm your brain / A new study shows the way you’re breathing affects your mind” The Verge article. Interesting article that talks about the discoveries of those brain regions and the significance of them.
Additional Finds
Anyone who is close to me knows that I love this thing. It is known as the best sleep tracker available and going to sleep with a ring is a lot more comfortable than a watch or any other device. As I’ve said before I’m a sleep princess and I love seeing the data from my previous night of sleep. This gives me powerful insight into what things are affecting my sleep quality. You can take a look at it here.
Pro Tip: put your ring on airplane mode and do not look at your data until you are in bed the following night. This is because it scores your sleep and it also gives you a readiness score. I have found that these scores affect my mood throughout the day depending on if it's a good or bad score.
Quote That Struck Me:
“Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again”. - L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
