Incorporating breathwork into your daily routine can be simple and effective, when our students begin their facilitator training with Breathing Space, we encourage a short daily practice and a longer breathwork at least once a week:
- Morning practice: Start with 5-10 minutes of rhythmic breathing upon waking.
- Commute breaths: Practice a gentle lung stretch during your commute (if not driving, for example at traffic lights).
- Work breaks: Take short breathing breaks between tasks. Perhaps try 4-7-8 breath whilst the kettle is boiling.
- Mealtime mindfulness: Practice breath awareness before meals, just noticing how you are feeling and how you are breathing.
- Stress response: Use quick techniques like box breathing during stressful moments.
- Exercise warm-up/cool-down: Incorporate breathwork before and after workouts.
- Bedtime ritual: Practice calming techniques before sleep, again rhythmic breathing is great.
- App reminders: Use smartphone apps to remind you to practice throughout the day.
- Pair with habits: Attach breathwork to existing habits like brushing your teeth.
- Mindful moments: Use daily activities (e.g., waiting in line) as cues for brief practice.
Start small and gradually increase. Consistency is key – even short, regular sessions can be highly beneficial. Experiment to find what works best for your lifestyle and needs. For me, I simply started with Breath Awareness at various points during the day, and developed my practice from there. I have to confess, this deteriorated during a particularly difficult time for me, and my regular longer breathworks actually kept me on track, so be aware and be kind to yourself.