Why Your Breath Is So Valuable (and How It Can Change Everything)
We all know we can’t survive without breathing, but have you ever really thought about why your breath is so valuable beyond keeping you alive?
As a Mind Body Chiropractor, I talk about breath all the time. It’s one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce stress and anxiety, ease pain, and help bring the nervous system back into balance. But I also want you to understand why, not just do it because “your chiropractor told you to.”
Our breath is the gateway between the mind and the body.
When we feel unsafe, stressed, anxious or overwhelmed, our sympathetic nervous system (our fight or flight response) activates. Our breath becomes faster, shorter, and shallower. The body follows: muscles tighten, heart rate and cortisol rise, digestion and healing slow down. Our mind races, and we feel trapped in a loop of overthinking and discomfort.
In contrast, when we feel safe, calm and connected, the ventral vagal branch of the parasympathetic nervous system takes over. Our breath slows and deepens. Heart rate steadies, muscles relax, digestion improves, and the body can finally rest and repair.
The incredible thing is that although breathing happens automatically, we can consciously take control of it. By slowing and lengthening the breath, we can use the body to calm the mind, lowering heart rate, reducing muscle tension, decreasing cortisol and restoring balance throughout the whole system.
On the other end of the spectrum, when we’re in a freeze or shutdown state (hypoarousal), our breath and heart rate become too slow. We might feel disconnected, fatigued or numb. In these moments, gently increasing our breath ratecan bring us back into a more energised, regulated state.
So yes, our breath is not just about staying alive. It’s about maintaining life in a calm, connected and socially engaged way.
🌬️ And breeeeathe…
Don’t wait until you’re stressed or shut down to practice breathwork. Integrate it into your daily routine. The more you practice when calm, the easier it becomes to re-regulate when life gets overwhelming.