Somatic Release & Power Breathing
Harnessing the Power of Breath for Physical Conditioning and Emotional Release
At Progressive Breathing, we offer advanced techniques that use breath control to enhance physical conditioning and facilitate emotional release. Three key methods combined, CO2 Tolerance, Somatic Release Breathing and Power Breathing, work together to promote overall well-being.
These practices tap into the power of the breath to strengthen the body, balance the nervous system, and access deep emotional healing, making them essential tools for healing and restoring optimal health.
The Science and Benefits of Somatic Release Breathing
Somatic Release Breathing is a therapeutic breathwork technique designed to help individuals release stored emotions, trauma, and tension from the body. This practice activates the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation and healing, and allows individuals to release deep-seated physical and emotional stress. Through controlled breath patterns, participants can experience relief, mental clarity, and a profound sense of emotional balance.
The benefits of Somatic Release Breathing include:
- Emotional release and healing
- Stress reduction and relaxation
- Improved physical health, including reduced muscle tension and chronic pain
- Enhanced mental clarity and focus
- Increased Self-Awareness
- Altered States of Consciousness
However, fast-paced, mouth-based techniques like Holotropic Breathing, which is often used for somatic release, come with risks such as hyperventilation, tetany (muscle contractions), and overwhelming emotional experiences. Without proper guidance, these intense breathing methods can disrupt the natural balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. Furthermore, this can potentially lead to nervous system overload, psychological stress and physical strain.
Power Breathing for Physical Conditioning
Benefits of Power Breathing for Physical Conditioning:
- Targets key areas: spine, core, diaphragm, abdominal wall, pelvic floor, and respiratory system.
- Engages the entire respiratory system through controlled, deep rhythmic breathing.
Diaphragm and Respiratory System Benefits:
- Strengthens the diaphragm for efficient breathing and overall respiratory health.
- Improves lung capacity and oxygen intake, enhancing athletic performance and endurance.
- Supports respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD by improving breathing efficiency.
Abdominal Wall and Pelvic Floor Strengthening:
- Tones and strengthens the abdominal wall, promoting core stability and overall strength.
- Reduces the risk of injury and improves posture.
- Strengthens pelvic floor muscles, improving bladder control and pelvic health, preventing incontinence.
Spine and Core Support:
- Stabilizes the spine by engaging core muscles, promoting proper spinal alignment.
- Prevents back pain and enhances overall body mechanics.
- Beneficial for individuals who spend long hours sitting or performing activities that stress the spine.
Overall Health Improvements:
- Promotes better oxygen exchange, stamina, and reduces fatigue during physical activities.
- Helps reduce strain on the lower back, improving posture and overall movement efficiency.
By engaging the diaphragm, abdominal wall, and pelvic floor, Power Breathing promotes core stability and physical endurance, making it an essential tool for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone seeking better respiratory function.
CO2 Retention & Breath Holds
CO2 Retention or Breath Holding is another method that offers significant benefits through enhancing the body’s tolerance to carbon dioxide, which in turn improves overall respiratory efficiency and oxygen utilization. Some key benefits include:
- Improved Oxygen Delivery: By retaining CO2, the body increases its sensitivity to oxygen, enhancing the oxygen release from hemoglobin to tissues (Bohr effect).
- Enhanced Respiratory Function: Breath holding strengthens the diaphragm and improves lung capacity, leading to better breath control and efficiency.
- Reduced Stress & Anxiety: CO2 retention helps stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and a calm state of mind.
- Increased Mental Focus: Controlled breath holding can improve concentration and mental clarity by regulating breathing patterns and CO2 levels.
- Improved Athletic Performance: Breath-hold training boosts endurance, stamina, and recovery by optimizing oxygen use and increasing CO2 tolerance.
Homeostasis & CO2 Tolerance
Improving CO2 tolerance enhances the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis, or internal balance. Higher CO2 tolerance means the body becomes more efficient at utilizing oxygen, as carbon dioxide helps release oxygen from hemoglobin to tissues through the Bohr effect. This leads to better cellular function, improved energy levels, and greater endurance.
Enhanced CO2 tolerance also stabilizes pH levels in the blood, promoting an optimal acid-alkaline balance crucial for metabolic processes. It supports nervous system regulation, reducing stress and promoting relaxation by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, fostering overall well-being and physiological balance.
Amplified Brain Wave States
Breath Retentions have the potential to amplify altered states of consciousness by disrupting the body’s usual balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide. During a breath-hold, rising CO2 levels and fluctuating oxygen availability can lead to shifts in brain activity and physiological responses that promote heightened awareness or altered perceptions. This altered state may resemble experiences achieved through meditation, psychedelic practices, or deep spiritual work.
By increasing CO2 retention, breath holds can stimulate the release of endogenous chemicals like nitric oxide and DMT, deepening the sense of connection, introspection, and transcendence. Additionally, breath retention can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing mental chatter and opening pathways to expanded states of consciousness, where individuals may experience profound emotional, spiritual, or intuitive insights.
The Risks of Fast-Paced, Mouth Breathing Techniques
While techniques like Holotropic Breathing and other rapid, mouth-based breathwork practices may offer altered states of consciousness and emotional release, they come with notable risks:
- Hyperventilation: Rapid mouth breathing decreases carbon dioxide levels, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, and reduced blood flow to the brain.
- Tetany: This condition involves involuntary muscle contractions, particularly in the hands and feet, and is a direct result of low CO2 levels caused by hyperventilation.
- Stressed Nervous System: Fast, shallow mouth breathing is the body’s natural response to stress, placing your nervous system in a fight, flight or freeze state. Acute stress accumulates over time and creates chronic stress and the nervous system becomes overwhelmed.
- Psychological Overwhelm: The intense emotional experiences triggered by fast-paced breathing can be overwhelming, sometimes leading to panic or re-traumatization.
- Respiratory Alkalosis: Disrupting natural breathing patterns can lead to changes in blood pH, affecting overall health.
- Disconnecting the Internal Electrical Circuit: The meridian points on the lips connects the internal energy circuit. The tongue is the switch to turn the circuit on or off. When opening the mouth and dislodging the tongue from its natural position, the electrical circuit ceases to flow naturally.
Why Nasal Breathing is Superior, Healthier, and Safer
Nasal breathing serves as a natural protection and filtration system for the body. The cilia, tiny hair-like structures in the nasal passages, help filter out harmful substances such as dust, allergens, and pathogens from the air before it reaches the lungs. As air passes through the nose, it is also warmed and humidified to body temperature. This ensures that the lungs receive clean, properly conditioned air. This process helps protect the respiratory system from irritants and infections, promoting better lung health and overall well-being.
The Key Advantages of Nasal Breathing:
- Nitric Oxide Production: Firstly, nasal breathing stimulates the release of nitric oxide. Nitric Oxide is a molecule that dilates blood vessels and improves oxygen circulation. This enhances respiratory efficiency, cardiovascular health, and overall oxygenation of tissues.
- Parasympathetic Activation: Secondly, slow, deep rhythmic nasal breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and calming the nervous system. This helps regulate oxygen and CO2 balance in the blood, preventing the risks of hyperventilation.
- Improved Blood Flow: Thirdly, proper nasal breathing supports cerebrospinal fluid production and enhances brain function, making it a better option for mental clarity and neurological health.
- Support for Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow: Fourthly, proper nasal breathing supports the rhythmic flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which is essential for brain health and neurological function. Disrupting this flow through rapid mouth breathing can lead to cognitive imbalances and impairments.
- Support for Core Stability: Additionally, nasal breathing also engages the diaphragm and core muscles(namely the abdominal wall and pelvic floor), supporting physical conditioning without the risks of over-breathing or strain.
- Enhanced Focus and Mindfulness: Moreover, nasal breathing encourages a more mindful, focused approach to breathwork, making it easier to achieve a meditative state without the intense emotional and physiological stress of Holotropic Breathing.
- A Connected Internal Electrical Circuit: Lastly, correct lip and tongue position/placement allows for a natural flow of elecro-magnetic energy throughout the body, this too is obtained through nasal breathing.
Combining CO2 Tolerance, Somatic Release & Power Breathing: A Holistic Approach
Nasal breathing serves as a natural protection and filtration system for the body. The cilia, tiny hair-like structures in the nasal passages, help filter out harmful substances such as dust, allergens, and pathogens from the air before it reaches the lungs. As air passes through the nose, it is also warmed and humidified to body temperature. This ensures that the lungs receive clean, properly conditioned air. This process helps protect the respiratory system from irritants and infections, promoting better lung health and overall well-being.
The Key Advantages of Nasal Breathing:
- Nitric Oxide Production: Firstly, nasal breathing stimulates the release of nitric oxide. Nitric Oxide is a molecule that dilates blood vessels and improves oxygen circulation. This enhances respiratory efficiency, cardiovascular health, and overall oxygenation of tissues.
- Parasympathetic Activation: Secondly, slow, deep rhythmic nasal breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and calming the nervous system. This helps regulate oxygen and CO2 balance in the blood, preventing the risks of hyperventilation.
- Improved Blood Flow: Thirdly, proper nasal breathing supports cerebrospinal fluid production and enhances brain function, making it a better option for mental clarity and neurological health.
- Support for Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow: Fourthly, proper nasal breathing supports the rhythmic flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which is essential for brain health and neurological function. Disrupting this flow through rapid mouth breathing can lead to cognitive imbalances and impairments.
- Support for Core Stability: Additionally, nasal breathing also engages the diaphragm and core muscles(namely the abdominal wall and pelvic floor), supporting physical conditioning without the risks of over-breathing or strain.
- Enhanced Focus and Mindfulness: Moreover, nasal breathing encourages a more mindful, focused approach to breathwork, making it easier to achieve a meditative state without the intense emotional and physiological stress of Holotropic Breathing.
- A Connected Internal Electrical Circuit: Lastly, correct lip and tongue position/placement allows for a natural flow of elecro-magnetic energy throughout the body, this too is obtained through nasal breathing.
At Progressive Breathing, we combine the emotional & physical healing benefits of CO2 Tolerance & Somatic Release Breathing with the physical conditioning of Power Breathing for a well-rounded approach to health. Furthermore, our Progressive Breathing Techniques & Method prioritizes nasal breathing. Nasal Breathing provides a safer and more natural way to balance the body and mind. By focusing on controlled, deep rhytmic breathing you can achieve healing and restore optimal health. If you’re seeking emotional release, physical strength, mental clarity or altered brainwave states, this can also be obtained.
Explore the Power of Nasal Breathing with Progressive Breathing
We offer a range of services on the Sunshine Coast and Online, including:
- Personal and Group Coaching: Tailored sessions for individuals or groups to integrate Somatic Release and Power Breathing into their routines.
- Workshops and Events: Regular sessions where you can explore the benefits of nasal breathing in a supportive environment.
- Online Training Programs and Resources: Learn at your own pace with our online programs.
- Mobile Service: Experience our breathwork practices in the comfort of your home or in nature.
Contact us today to schedule a session, event, or workshop, and begin your journey toward optimal health and healing with Progressive Breathing.
