#1: Strengthens Lungs When you breathe in, your diaphragm does 80% of the work, filling your lungs with oxygen during inhalation and exhausting waste gas during exhalation. Consider your lungs like a spring door, opening to let air in and closing to push air out. Over time, our lungs can lose their springiness. Stale air can build up, leaving less room for the diaphragm to expand and contract. If the diaphragm cannot work fully, the body uses other muscles (like the neck, back, and chest) for breathing. #2: Improves Focus Our brains rely on oxygenated blood to function. Taking deep breaths allows more oxygen to enter the bloodstream and can help increase mental awareness. #3: Increases Energy Deep and controlled breathing activates the autonomic nervous system and increases oxygen to the brain and vital tissues, allowing the brain and organs to function optimally. If you’re feeling sluggish at any point throughout the day, take 10 minutes to practice breathwork for a boost of energy. #4: Promotes Better Sleep Practicing slow, deep breaths and extended exhales before bed may help initiate a relaxation response to help you fall asleep faster. Slow, deep breathing can activate the parasympathetic side of the autonomic nervous system. Slow, deep breathing has also been found to produce melatonin, a hormone responsible for sleep regulation. #5: Supports Immune System Research suggests that breathwork practices such as resistive breathing, a strength training technique involving a device that creates resistance as the user inhales and exhales, may help increase inflammatory responses responsible for fighting off foreign pathogens. Breathwork may also help activate lung defenses against viruses. #6: Enhances Digestion Did you know that the benefits of breathwork may also help you digest food better? Research has found that some deep breathing exercises may help improve digestive functions by increasing enzyme action and helping the body clear out metabolic waste. #7: Reduces Anxiety and Stress