Somatic breathwork is a relaxed and conscious way of breathing without tension. It has many benefits that we will discuss in this article.
Firstly you might want to know what somatic breathing is and how you can practise it. Somatic breathwork is a form of deep breathing that mixes ancient and modern breathing practices. It is a therapeutic method of conscious breathing that increases the oxygen in the body.
Somatic breathing is done either by sitting up or lying on your back, where you intentionally engage the breath with no pauses between your inhales and exhales allowing air to flow continuously in and out of your body.
By breathing this way, your body naturally begins to release physical tension and surface levels of stress.
Diaphragmatic breathing is a relaxing way of breathing that can release deeper emotional and physical tension, helping you be more aware of your body and emotions.
Somatic breath therapy can be done in one-on-one sessions with a skilled cognitive mind practitioner or in group sessions and breathwork workshops.
It is a great way of reconnecting to deep breathing and is ideal for developing body awareness, identifying core patterns, and anchoring healthy breath.
10. Recharging your energy – a powerful approach to regaining your control
By doing this belly breathing, your body increases a state of energy called ‘Activation’. ‘Activation’ helps you to recharge your energy, releasing what no longer serves you physically, emotionally, and mentally.
9. Reducing stress and anxiety – this body-focused approach helps you release stresses
Cyclical breathing has been proven to be slightly more effective for improving your mood than any other meditation designed for mindfulness.
This approach has also been found to be a great way of calming the mind due to reducing the number of breaths taken during the practice. You can reduce your stress and anxiety using this breathing technique.
8. Healing from trauma – a conscious connection between the breath and healing
One of our favourite benefits of somatic breathwork is its healing element. A form of conscious breathing and breathwork can help process and release the experiences of trauma.
Whether it be childhood trauma or trauma through experiences, breathwork has a fantastic healing power. It can help you release the trauma and restore the elements of yourself and your life that might have been missed due to the traumatic experiences.
You can breathe deeply and freely as the trauma leaves your body and mind.
7. Becoming more aware of your body – a body scanning breathwork technique helping improve digestion
This benefit of somatic breathing lets you get in tune with your body to cleanse it of toxins and ultimately improve digestion. Awareness leads to healing in all areas of the body.
6. Clearing negative emotions – connected breathwork to help release stagnant feelings
Somatic breathwork brings conscious awareness to the places in the body that have a grip on painful emotions that have yet to be fully processed and released that create a sense of chronic tension within the body.
By allowing the body to connect to these emotions and exploring the feeling they cause you through this form of body therapy, these emotions will pass, and you can release the stagnant emotions.
This breathwork can clear your negative emotions so you can live a life free of them.
5. Relieving pains – work with an experienced practitioner to alleviate any chronic pains
The idea with this benefit is that by working with a therapist, you can start to heal your body. Breathing deeply engages the parasympathetic nervous system, which brings clarity to your mind and body.
These body sensations you are likely facing will be beneficial to healing and reducing any chronic pains through deep breathing and movements such as yoga or simple stretching.
4. Decreasing addictive behaviours – this deep breathing can help you overcome trauma
Many people who develop an addiction have a history of loss, neglect, or early childhood trauma. This trauma can get trapped in the body. Addictive behaviour, then, is like a coping mechanism helping to fill an emotional gap.
Regular somatic breathing and mindfulness can truly have a great effect on reducing these behaviours and help to reduce the trauma that comes along with the addiction.
3. Creating better clarity in the mind – helps to create space for clearer thinking and a clearer subconscious mind
This is pretty simple to the others on this list, but a clearer mind helps your body heal from anything. The breathwork will enable you to tap into any tensions and let out that tension, pressures, and any discomforts you might feel.
Regular practice will enable you to take complete control of your amazing mind and have ultimate clarity in everyday life.
2. Alkalizing your blood’s pH – connected breathing increases the oxygen and rids the body of carbon dioxide
One of the best benefits of somatic breathing is the respiratory alkalosis seen from the physiological changes during a sustained and rhythmic breathing practice.
It is said that when you take deeper breaths, you rid your body of more CO2. These lower CO2 levels shift your body towards a higher alkaline pH.
1. Improving blood pressure and circulation – an effective breathwork approach to treatment
Deep breathwork is beneficial to people with high blood pressure and can help improve blood circulation throughout the body, especially for people dealing with stress.
Although, sufferers of high blood pressure should also consult a medical professional.
Other notable mentions
Clears blockages in life: Somatic breath therapy allows you to live a fuller life by going through a journey of breathwork.
Stronger connection to the higher self: Somatic breathwork allows you to connect to your higher self and spirit guides for a fuller spiritual experience.
Deeper meditation practice: By practising somatic breathing, you enable yourself to perform deeper meditations as you connect with your mind.
FAQs about somatic breathwork
What is somatic breath therapy?
Somatic breath therapy is a form of deep breathing that facilitates body activation and healthy breath movement through breathwork techniques.
Why should I try somatic breathing exercises?
You should try somatic breathing exercises for many reasons, such as allowing you to get in touch with tensions in your mind and body.
Can somatic therapy help with trauma?
Yes, somatic therapy, or breath control, can help you manage symptoms of trauma. However, we recommend seeking out a therapist to get the most value out of somatic breathwork.