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Breath Diagnosis - How Do I Breathe?

Most of us are breathing unconsciously most of the time - it just happens without having to think about it. So, how would you know if your breathing was supporting you in every way possible - or if you are sub-ventilating and creating problems for your body?

These simple questions may help understand your relationship with your breathing…

  1. When I am in a stressful situation my usual tendency is:
    1. I become tense in my body and reduce my breath until I feel as if I am hardly breathing at all.
    2. I breathe in and out vigorously through the mouth. I feel energised but this sometimes results in emotional or physical outbursts.
    3. I take long calm deep nose breaths in and out of my body and allow the stress sensations to move through my body.
  2. When I take a long deep breath (practice with a hand on your stomach and a hand on your chest):
    1. My chest fills with breath but little or no movement lower down my body to my belly.
    2. My belly fills with breath but I cannot feel much movement in my chest area.
    3. I can see and feel movement in my belly, then my ribcage and finally my chest and shoulders are filled with breath.
  3. When I breathe normally I notice:
    1. My inhale is stronger than my exhale - it seems as if I resist completely ‘letting go’ in life, there is always something holding me back from complete relaxation.
    2. My exhale goes on longer and I sometimes feel not quite present - my challenge is getting committed to things and taking them to completion.
    3. My inhale and my exhale are completely balanced. I breathe continuously without interruption and experience complete relaxation.

If you responded 1or 2 to any of the questions above, then breathwork will probably support you to open up to more healthy ways of breathing. If you answered 3 to all questions - your breathing is supporting you well, why not train as a breathwork practitioner and support others to do the same!

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Important information: “Breathing Circle promotes the use of Conscious Breathwork as an effective route to self-healing. We support a range of breathwork modalities and are not limited to one specific practice. We encourage group leaders to be experienced in facilitation of group breathwork practices, but we do not guarantee their expertise or professionalism. Breathing Circle always encourages discernment and self-responsibility when selecting a therapist or group breathwork leader.”

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