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As the temperature drops and the days grow shorter, it’s easy to feel the chill settle in, both outside and inside. But what if the simple act of breathing could warm you from the inside out and help calm your body and soul?
Breathwork, often overlooked, is a powerful tool that can unlock a wealth of benefits, especially when the weather has you craving cozy blankets and warm drinks, according to The Guardian. From helping to increase circulation to aiding your resilience against the cold, breathwork might just be the secret ingredient you need to turn this season into one of your best yet.
Warms You Up From the Inside
Giving your lungs a bit of exercise warms you up from the inside during the chilly winter months. According to the Outdoor Yoga website, repeated inhaling and exhaling creates heat internally. The Breath of Fire exercise, in particular, can help increase heat in the body while also strengthening your core. Try inhaling gently and exhaling quickly as you pull your navel inwards. You’ll warm up the body by activating your core and respiratory system.
Could Increase Circulation
Activity levels often drop along with the temperature, as cold outdoors tend to keep you inside more. Breathwork, reported The Guardian, provides a technique to boost circulation during the more dormant times of the year. Practice deep breathing that fully expands your diaphragm. This gets blood pumping throughout the body which could help keep your organs healthy.
Helps to Calm Your Mind
Need some stress relief? (Who doesn’t). Temperatures tend to drop around the busy holiday season, making breathwork a go-to technique to help beat stress and keep you calm, reported The Washington Post. Breathing exercises could provide a shift from chaos to calm. Those deep, intentional breaths help rebalance your nervous system from “fight-or-flight” to “rest-and-digest”.
May Increase Your Tolerance for Cold
Not a snow bunny? Breathwork can help improve your tolerance to temperature drops. Take Wim Hof, aka The Ice Man, known for his ability to withstand extreme cold. His therapy, called the Wim Hof Method, combines breathwork and cold plunges. According to the Experience Life Magazine, breathing exercises, like those used by Hof, play a crucial part in developing a cold tolerance.
Could Boost Your Immunity
Catching a cold or the flu and cold weather tend to go hand in hand. Breathwork could help stave off those sick days by boosting your immunity. According to a blog on UH University Hospitals website, breathing exercises could improve blood flow and reduce stress hormones, all of which helps rid the body of germs and viruses more efficiently.
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