13/01/2022
Why is a regular breath practice (pranayama) beneficial? Numerous reasons :
* Decreases stress and anxiety
* Lowers heart rate
* Balances nervous system
* Reduces ‘fight / flight’ mode and stimulates ‘rest / recovery / digest’
* Helps to manage chronic pain
* Decreases fatigue
* Decreases muscle tension
* Improve focus
* Assist better sleep
* Stimulate the vagus nerve* more about this later
As a pelvic health physio, breathing properly to help assist pelvic floor muscle function + specific breath exercises is a very important tool and part of my practice. It can help those suffering from constipation, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, pain with intimacy and erectile dysfunction in men.
And of course, prenatally and during childbirth. 🤰
Breath exercises have been well established as a useful tool to strengthen the mind-body connection
Try this easy relaxed breathing exercise anytime of the day - I suggest first thing in the morning when you wake up and last thing at night, starting for 2 mins in a comfortable position to help set you up and wind you down for the day; try it for a month and see if you can automate it into your self care routine.
*more on the vagus nerve and why it is so important for health and well-being soon!
