The Benefits of Breathwork and How to Start Your Practice

Breathwork has been around for thousands of years, and has its roots in ancient Eastern practices such as yoga and Tai Chi. The breathwork movement in Western culture became prevalent around the 1960s – 70s, and in recent years has really created a buzz within the wellness industry.

So, What Is Breathwork?  

Breathwork is the conscious activation of your breath to enter an elevated state of awareness. It is an interactive form of meditation that can help overcome stress, anxiety and various forms of overwhelm by bypassing the mind to reconnect with the physical body and energy.  

When life throws you a curveball, breathing exercises are a quick and easy way to relax, regain your focus or get you energised. There are many breathwork styles and techniques, each with its own unique effects on the mind and body. Here are just a few:  

• Belly Breathing: Reduces stress and helps you cope and relax. Deep breathing promotes core stability and helps prevent injury. 
• Breath Retention: Breathe in, hold, and exhale it intentionally for a time. It improves lung capacity, oxygenates the blood, and boosts attention and focus. 
• Lion's Breath: Lion's breath is connected to the fifth Chakra energy, which is responsible for self-expression, communication, and creativity. As a result, it promotes calm and empowerment by releasing tension in the face and neck. 
• Sitali & Sitkari (Cooling) Breath: A technique for regulating the body's temperature and may assist in reducing blood pressure, anger and anxiety.
• Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril) Breathing: Helps you focus, reduce stress, and relax by balancing both yin and yang energies/left and right sides of the body.
  
• Kapalabhati (Skull Shining) Breath: This invigorating breath practice helps stimulate Pitta energy (heat building, improves metabolism, gentle detoxification) and can help clear the sinuses, improve concentration and memory.
• Sama Vritti (Equal Breath): Sama means 'equal' and Vritti means 'mental fluctuations'. This technique involves an equal count of inhalation and exhalation (e.g. 4 seconds inhalation, 4 seconds hold, 4 seconds exhalation) to bring balance to the mental chatter and fluctuations of the mind.

What's the Best Time for Breathwork? 

Experts suggest that you include breathwork during your morning routine. Practising breathwork in the morning is a fantastic way to clear your mind and energise your body for the day. Of course, you can do breathwork anytime throughout the day, but be mindful of engaging with activating breath practices, such as Kapalabhati, before bed time.

Benefits of Breathwork 

1. Reduce Stress and Anxiety

You can manage stress, anxiety, and depression by taking slower and faster breaths. The breathing exercises help you relax your mind and reconnect with your body. 

2. Calm Your Mind

Breathwork clears your mind and stimulates creativity. It helps you find inspiration. It also allows you to find inspiration. Focusing on your body and breath enables you to understand what you need. 

3. Offers a Sense of Empowerment

Breathwork is an excellent way to practice gratitude and improve your mood. Take a moment and imagine how lucky you are to breathe when many people can't. Sometimes we're oblivious of the privilege of catching your breath and regaining your innate power.

The Australian Market for Breathwork Therapists 

Breathwork is included in Australia's Health and Wellness industry, which accounts for $507.9m in 2022 and is expected to increase by 14.8%. As the demand continues to grow, it is a promising venture with unlimited potential.

How to Find a Breathwork Practitioner 

Choosing a facilitator that matches your needs, values, and comfort level is very important. Find a breathwork practitioner near you by visiting the IICT Directory here.

5 Tips for Starting a Breathwork Practice

The breathwork business is among Australian fitness' fastest-growing activities. If you’re considering learning more about this practice and how to start a Breathwork studio, perhaps in combination with yoga or pilates, here are some tips on how to begin.  

1. Get Certified

Getting formal training and education in Breathwork is highly recommended before you begin teaching others. The Australian Breathwork College is an IICT Approved Training Provider who provides comprehensive breathwork practitioner training. 

2. Have a Business Plan

Making your dream a reality requires thorough planning. A business plan gives you the finer details of starting your breathwork studio, like business name, price, operating hours and more. Designing a SWOT analysis can be a great way to start.  

3. Have a Budget in Place

As part of your planning, estimate your revenue, costs, and startup expenses to determine if your business can launch successfully. To build a successful breathwork studio, you must invest money upfront. Generating a consistent revenue stream requires a strong clientele base which involves a lot of work and sacrifice. Gain insight from those who already work in the field and research well.  

4. Find a Prime Location

Consider who your target audience would be and where they would be to choose a suitable location. Whatever your choice of location, there are several other important issues to consider: 

• The studio is accessible by public transport. 
• Provide easy access to your clients. 
• Ensure that there is enough space for everyone to sit comfortably. 
• There is plenty of parking available. 

Look for locations where the demand for breathwork studios is high, but there is little competition. In addition, consider your budget when selecting a location. 

5. Marketing Your Studio

Getting your business name out there requires a solid marketing strategy. Make people aware of your business, and let them know who you are. If you don’t have a website yet, social media is a great connection point to promote your services online.  

A prospective client will want to know key information about your studio – who you are, where you are located, class styles, prices and times, for example. You might even implement an online sign-up and booking process so  visitors can enrol in your classes. Here are a few more great ways to advertise your breathwork studio: 

• Optimise the website for Google and promote  by using Google Ads. 
• Set up accounts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and get networking. 
• Create seasonal promotions, new member deals, and tee up a collaboration with another local business that complements the practice.
  

IICT Can Help You Get Started 

IICT is a professional industry body for Breathwork practitioners and over 1,100 other modalities. Providing professional recognition, access to insurance and resources to support the growth of your practice in over 35+ countries, IICT is the leading international professional body for complementary therapists. Join IICT here or contact our team to find out more about becoming a member today.