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Breathing is fundamental to life. It is the atom of inner courage that leads us into authentic living. Even though breathwork is an ancient technique or practice, today, it needs to be infused into our modern lifestyle to enrich a refreshing life.
It is instrumental to breathe consciously to remain healthful and optimistic. A mindful breath can accelerate vitality and help overcome a stressful day. And it also helps you to relax at work and reduce your stress.
Moreover, deep breathing allows you to connect to greater spiritual wellness. It allows you to stay calm and composed. Practicing breathwork every day helps enhance work performance and makes you more productive.
Key Takeaways
- Fewer breaths per minute is the whole game. Nose breathing at a slower rate drops resting heart rate, balances blood pressure, opens up neurochemistry, and — because the brain senses safety — the body burns fat instead of storing it. Work is a mental endurance event, and fat is endurance fuel.
- Your exhale should be longer than your inhale. A simple starter ratio: inhale 2, exhale 4. Or 4 and 8. Every hour, slide the computer away for a minute and practice.
- Stress must be corrected in motion, not in retrospect. You can't fix stress when you're calm — you have to slow the inhale while the stressor is happening. Slowing the inhale is a signal to the brain: "I am safe, I am strong, I can think my way through this."
- Thoughts are not wild tigers. Recognising that an email or a meeting is just a thought — not a physical threat — is the first interrupt to the default fight-or-flight reaction.
- Four parts to every breath. Inhale, pause-in, exhale, pause-out. The pauses are the stillness that turns breathing into practice.
- Breath is the cheapest investment in human capital companies have. Ed argues: money will never love an employee back, but skills around mind, breath, and feeling will — and they lower healthcare costs, improve sleep, and reduce absenteeism as a side effect.
In Ed's Words
On what breathing actually does
It's a miracle that we can do it. No other animal on earth can control its breath but human beings. When we pause and take a minute for ourselves, what we're saying to our deeper self is — I have value.
When the brain senses safety, the body will burn fat all day long rather than store fat. Fat is endurance fuel. Work is a mental endurance event.
On stress, in real time
You can't fix stress when you're not stressed. You must correct it on the fly.
These are just thoughts. They are not a wild tiger chasing you down the hallway. You are in no danger of these thoughts until you say you are.
On wellness at work
There is no sustainable wealth without health.
When companies invest in human capital, what they're saying is — I want you to be healthy. The money will never love you back. But I can show you skills so you can grow as a human being.
About The Speaker
Ed Harrold is an author, inspirational leader, public speaker, coach and educator. He is a contributing health & wellness editor for Thrive Global, MindBodyGreen & PTOnTheNet, HuffingtonPost and more. Ed is the author of Life With Breath IQ + EQ = NEW YOU & BodyMindBusiness: The Business Of BE’ing Within.
Ed blends the fields of neuroscience and the wisdom of contemplative traditions into effective strategies to improve health, well-being and performance. His mastery in the science of mindful breathing has guided him to apply conscious breathing practices in corporate health & performance coaching, fitness & athletic training, healthcare continuing education courses, stress reduction and overall health and well-being.
Connect with him on Linkedin
Show Notes
(01:08) How would you explain breathwork or the art of breathing?
(01:50) What are the health and wellness benefits of breathwork?
(03:18) Are there any types of breathwork? And, if so, which of them would be the best for employees working from 9-5?
(06:36) Does breathwork helps eliminate stress or related mental and physical health problems at work?
(09:11) Can you suggest some simple ways to practice breathwork at the office?
(12:20) What is your take on wellness programs? And why should corporate wellness programs integrate or promote breathwork?
(14:27) Would you like to share some valuable tips with our listeners? And also, where can they find you?
