(Part 1) Breathwork for Personal and Professional Well-Being, a three-part series.
Introduction
(1/3) Welcome to the first instalment: across this series, we will explore how breathwork can enhance mental and emotional health, combat stress, alleviate anxiety, and prevent burnout. Through a personal and professional lens, I will share insights and experiences on overcoming obstacles and challenges, all while fostering a deeper connection with ourselves and our desired outcomes.
Trigger warning: this post mentions suicide.
Defining Breathwork
Before we start, when I talk about Breathwork, I mean Breathwork as a consistent daily practice that encompasses versatility, science, and energetics.
I’m not referring to what you may sometimes see on social media platforms, where breathwork can often be oversimplified, dramatic, and misunderstood.
These representations can highlight aspects of breathwork, but also be overly sensationalised in portraying it as a quick fix.
Understanding the full scope of breathwork means looking at its potential for both subtle and profound changes in our lives, and how we can consciously control our breath to interact with our physiology and psychology in healthier ways.
When and how did I discover Breathwork?
If I’m honest, I was sceptical at first when I stumbled upon Breathwork at a period in my life when I was in a vulnerable and raw place - I had lost and found my partner to suicide - and was left surviving each and every day, disconnected from myself and life.
Of course, before this period I’d had challenges with mental health, and that is perfectly ok for us to accept and embrace. I’d struggled with performance stress and anxiety, perfectionism, self-doubt, overthinking, not knowing what I wanted in life, and over-committing to social activities. This all resulted in an overwhelmed nervous system, holding me back, and offered a lower quality of life.
In 2019, that heartbreak and trauma of losing someone I loved, would shift and break my whole being into tiny little pieces, and take any challenge I’d had previously to a whole new level. I found myself struggling with complex PTSD, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. A year into this journey, navigating those challenges in parallel with isolation of Covid, I was almost ready to give up on myself, having exhausted nearly every outlet available to me, and having little strength or will to continue.
However, giving up was not an option: I had been on the other side of that fatality when life gets too tough and you feel like you have nowhere to go, or no one to turn to.
I wanted, or even needed to find a solution to heal, and live a healthy and happy life. There is always a solution if we’re curious, willing to put in the work, and willing to take a look at the parts we play in our own sufferings.
The Solution
This is where I found breathwork, instantly I had a connection with it. For me, it seemed to quieten the external world more than I was able to with other practices, and it worked hand-in-hand with what I had learned about myself during therapy, which I had been exploring since my early 20’s. Breathwork even shone a light and processed some of my subconscious wirings that I had no awareness of - given our subconscious makes up 95% of how we think, react, behave, perceive and feel in life - this was huge.
When I found breathwork, I started learning and implementing practices through self-guide, and when the time came I started working with coaches. My first breathwork experience provided the pathways to the rest of my life. Really! And it all started with curiosity, intention, and action.
I now had a tool that I could depend on to support me when I was consistent with my practice.
Breathwork has become a fun and integral part of my life over the last four plus years, helping me navigate trauma, stress, fear, and anxiety. It's not about eliminating these feelings, they are a part of life, but learning to manage them more effectively.
Really, Breathwork?
From my personal experience, and with science evolving and publishing research that is in alignment, practising breathwork over time can lead to significant positive changes. Breathwork has lowered my stress levels, anxiety, and supported me in connecting with myself - it reinforced my ability to say ‘NO’ in all areas of my life across relationships, friendships, work and social commitments - without second guessing or FOMO because I was aligning my priorities and actions with my values and goals.
I wouldn’t blame you if you read this and thought: it’s just breathing, I do it everyday without thinking, how can it help me? I get you, I feel you, and I share this story with you because of the profound impact becoming conscious of my breath, and implementing breathing techniques has had on my life
We are wired to survive, but why not find a way to thrive amongst it all?
Whatever your goal is in life, and whatever practise you implement, be curious, set an intention with a desired outcome, take action, and be consistent - even if it’s small incremental changes over time. And remember, some days our mood and energy will differ, and that is OK - 50% is the equivalent of 100%, on these days.
Thank you for reading,
Paul
Want to learn more about Breathwork?
I’m Paul Elderkin, a B.A. (hons), M.A., Ex-Pro Athlete, 10 Year Corporate Professional, Breath Coach, and in training Breath Scientist.
Are you looking to learn how to manage stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, or enhance productivity, focus and clarity? I offer a personalised 8-week breath training program to help you transform. Book a free intro call today!
