It’s funny, but you never really think much about breathing. Until it’s all you ever think about. – Tim Winton
Why breath coaching? Breathing is the most fundamental thing we do and we certainly can’t survive without it. We breathe between 17,000 and 30,000 time a day. So what if we’re getting it wrong?
Dysfunctional breathing or breathing pattern disorders can severely impact health and well-being – whether it’s contributing to a spiral of stress, anxiety and panic disorders; impacting inflammation levels in the body leading to chronic conditions and a host of other issues; reducing the amount of oxygen getting to the muscles, tissues and brain leading to fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog and more; or impacting the quality of your sleep and emotional well-being – learning how to breathe correctly is one of the best investments in your health and well-being you can ever make.
Dysfunctional breathing patterns include:
Hyperventilation or over-breathing (breathing in excess of the requirements of your body)
Unexplained breathlessness
Irregular breathing
Mouth breathing (awake or asleep – snoring and sleep apnea)
Upper chest movement (paradoxical breathing)
Hearing the breath during rest
Frequent sighing or yawning
A breath coaching session typically consists of a series of tests to identify any breathing pattern disorders including breathlessness, paradoxical breathing, over-breathing and dysfunctional use of the breathing muscles. A Heart Rate Variability test is also carried out to asses the health of the autonomic nervous system. A series of breathing exercises are then worked through and prescribed in order to begin to correct the breathing pattern.
It can take time to correct a lifetime of breathing incorrectly but the benefits are numerous:
Reduced breathlessness and incidence of exercise induced asthma
Increased sleep quality – addressing snoring and sleep apnea
Improved blood circulation and oxygen delivery to cells
Nervous system balance
Reduction in stress and anxiety
A calmer mind and improved concentration
Reduction in the symptoms of chronic conditions
Improved athletic performance – for more information on this click here
Elevated energy levels
Improved immune system function
Reduction in upper body tension
Alleviated symptoms of asthma
Improved functional movement and spinal stability
I am a certified Oxygen Advantage Instructor with a well-founded understanding of the science of breathing – the Oxygen Advantage harnesses the wisdom of Buteyko breathing to restore the bichemistry, biomechanics and psycho-physical aspects of breathing, as well as using Intermittent Hypoxic Hypercapnic Training (breath holds) to simulate high altitude conditions and cause positive adaptations within the body. Additionally I am very experienced in yogic pranayama (breath control) including Tummo breathing, more commonly known these days as part of the Wim Hof method.
An initial 90 minute session with me in person costs £50 and includes breath and HRV tests, a full lifestyle review and a tailored program of breathing exercises. Subsequent 60 minute sessions cost £35.
Online sessions cost £30 for 60 minutes. Before your first online session you will need to complete a detailed questionnaire covering health, lifestyle and needs. If your income has been affected adversely by COVID-19 then please contact me to discuss options.
Breathing affects your respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, muscular, and psychic systems, and also has a general effect on your sleep, memory, ability to concentrate, and your energy levels. – Donna Farhi
