Can Conscious Connected Breathwork Help With the Recovery Process?

Many holistic practices, such as breath work, can help people seeking treatment and working to maintain recovery. Within the breathwork world, some find many techniques more helpful than others. One of these techniques is conscious connected breathwork. Yet, what exactly is conscious connected breathwork? More importantly, how does it factor into addiction recovery? Well, you've come to the right place if you're looking to learn more about how conscious connected breathwork can aid in your recovery journey. 

Of course, before anyone can heavily rely on breathwork to aid in their sobriety journey, they must seek treatment. West Coast Recovery Centers offers clients a wide range of holistic practice and clinical treatment approaches geared toward helping them achieve sustainable sobriety. Reach out today to learn more about our programs and treatments today. 

What Is Breathwork?

For some, this idea of breathwork seems like a relatively new, trendy concept, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Breathwork has been around for thousands of years. It has roots in meditation, yoga, and other holistic-based practices. The various breathing techniques that fall under the umbrella term of “breathwork” focus on regulating the breath to improve one's mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being. How is this possible though? 

Breathing affects the entire body. More specifically, as Cureus indicates, respiratory rhythm “affects the central nervous system (CNS)." The nervous system helps our bodies stay balanced or remain in homeostasis. When our nervous system is well-regulated, we are better able to:

• Effectively manage emotional and mental health 
• Reduce anxiety symptoms 
• Improve physical health 
• Decrease stress levels
• Experience more balanced sleeping patterns 

There are many alternative ways for us to regulate our nervous systems. Some of these include taking cold showers, meditating, acupuncture, and, of course, breathwork! Along with regulating one's nervous system, some of the other benefits of breathwork include: 

• Improving blood pressure 
• Reducing trauma or PTSD symptoms 
• Improving respiratory 
• Boosting the immune system 
• Reducing muscle tension 
• Improving one's overall outlook on life 

Of course, one of the most significant benefits of breathwork for us to consider is its ability to help reduce addictive behaviors. However, we'll dive deeper into that later. First, let's consider some of the various breathwork techniques you can begin experimenting with today. 

Types of Breathwork Techniques

The mind is extremely active and quieting it down can be extremely difficult, especially in today's day and age of constant overstimulation. We also often spend time worrying about the future, which activates our stress hormones, wreaking further havoc on the body. Unfortunately, many turn to substance use to cope with these experiences, which can make them especially vulnerable to dependency and addiction.

When getting sober, it's critical to find new, healthier ways to cope with stress without substance use. Breathwork is just one of many healthy coping skills, and with it comes many techniques, including: 

• Diaphragmatic breathing: This technique engages the whole diaphragm by focusing on the belly gently rising with the breath in and falling with the breath out.
• Alternate nostril breathing: This technique is often practiced during yoga and consists of isolating each nostril by breathing in through one at a time and exhaling through the other.
• 4-7-8 breathing: Requires you to inhale for four counts, hold for seven, and exhale for eight counts, which can help you focus your mind and body away from worries. 

These are just a few techniques you can try, but now, let's look further into conscious connected breathwork and its role in addiction recovery. 

Understanding Conscious Connected Breathwork

As mentioned, breathwork can help recovery. It's an excellent way to manage stress. Additionally, when trying to abstain from substance use, it'll also help manage cravings. Conscious connected breathwork is another breathing technique. It consists of intentionally connecting the inhale with the exhale without any pauses.

According to the International Breathwork Foundation (IBF), there are many conscious connected breathing techniques. Varying techniques offer unique features, but, in general, there are four main components. They include: 

• Conscious connected breathing consists of not pausing between inhales and exhales 
• Diaphragmatic breathing consists of inhaling into the belly with a relaxed chest expansion 
• Relaxed inhale consists of breathing out as a passive movement 
• Breathing in and out through the same channel 

Many describe this circular breath technique as a powerful and safe tool for infusing the body with oxygen and energy, circulating energy, and recharging ourselves. That makes it an invaluable tool to use during recovery. 

Give Conscious Connected Breathwork a Try Today!

Reading about these breathing techniques, including conscious connected breathwork, may sound pretty easy and straightforward. However, as you begin to practice, you'll quickly realize that these practices require significant patience, mindfulness, and discipline. Once mastered though, these can be excellent tools for managing stress, reducing cravings, improving symptoms of co-occurring mental health conditions, and sustaining long-term sobriety. 

Consider experimenting with conscious connected breathwork to improve your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Of course, for those still living in active addiction, we at West Coast Recovery Centers strongly encourage you to reach out and begin healing today! 

Our minds are extremely active. As such, it's challenging for us to quiet down our thoughts, especially in today's day and age. Whether you're stressed about work, finances, personal relationships, or health, constant worry is detrimental to your overall emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Many of us turn to substance use to cope with this stress, but unfortunately, this can quickly lead to dependency. An excellent way to better manage this stress, especially when recovering from addiction is through conscious connected breathwork and other breathwork techniques. These practices help reduce stress, regulate the nervous system, and are instrumental to those looking to sustain long-term sobriety. Call West Coast Recovery Centers at (760) 492-6509 to learn more today!