A DEEP BREATH

Breathing can come across as a seemingly mundane, everyday task. But could it be the key to emotional and mental well-being?

- TATIANA DIAS

“Just breathe" - this cliche is agonisingly synonymous with moments that have you reaching for the panic button. Breathing is involuntary; it functions beyond thought – so why is it such a common practice to advise 'breathing' as a stress-buster? Your breath does more than you think and has never been truly given the respect it deserves - until now. But, just like turmeric lattes and power yoga, this effective breathing technique, too, finds its roots in ancient Indian practices. In a post-pandemic world, the Wim Hof breathwork method suddenly went mainstream and was used as a tool for emotional and mental well-being.

The Ins & Outs

"Breathwork is an age-old technique of yoga. The Sanskrit name for it is pranayama - prana means the vital force, that is the breath, and yama means the ways to control that breath," says yoga instructor Seema Sondhi. "When we control the breath, we can control the mind. If you focus on deep breathing, your mind will be in the present moment, making it very powerful."

Vasudha Rai, a wellness expert and yoga instructor, believes that people often forget that breath is what links your mind to your body. The fundamentals of yoga have always been asana, meditation and most importantly, breathwork. "Focusing on your breath perhaps can be extremely boring. We all skip it, but if you are interested in meditative practices, it helps. Whether you do it regularly or not, those few deep breaths can give you instant relief," says Rai.

The Emotional Connect