In my last post, we explored how sneaky little...

limiting beliefs can hold us back from living fully into our purpose, from taking risks on our passions, and then some. Well, guess what? I've got a secret weapon to share with you today – one that's been a game-changer for me both personally and professionally: breathwork.

Now, I know what you might be thinking...

"Breathwork?  Isn't that just, like, breathing?" And yes, while it does involve breathing, it's SO much more than that. This a powerful tool that we all have access to. I've experienced so many benefits from this modality. The most prominent one being big perspective shifts around how I choose to show up in the world.

Living in this fast paced world and society, many times I put myself last. Our jobs are demanding, everything and everyone is in a hurry, and alot of times we spend more time in the digital world than in the real one. From my own experience, with life moving a million miles per hour around me it's so easy to forget to check in with myself. It's so easy to put ME on the back burner. But wait a second.. how am I doing? Can you take a scecond and just think about the last time that you turned inward.. when's the last time you asked yourself a deep meaningful question? When is the last time you sat down and closed your eyes and took a few deep breaths? Just some food for thought.

When I've been the most stressed out, overwhelmed, and burnt out, breathwork has been a lifeline. This simple yet profound practice has continued to help me melt away tension, sharpen my focus, and ignite my passion and creativity. Whether you're a stylist behind the chair like me, a makeup artist on set, a mom, a dad, a manager with a team, an employee of a big corporate company, literally WHOEVER YOU ARE, breathwork can truly help you slow down for a second and reconnect with a very important person: yourself.

Understanding Breathwork

Okay, let's get one thing straight: breathwork is not just about breathing. Sure, it involves breathing, but it's a whole lot more intentional than the automatic inhales and exhales we do all day long. Think of it like this: your breath is your built-in stress eliminator, a direct line to your nervous system. By consciously controlling it, you can tap into its ability to calm your mind, soothe your body, and experience many benefits (listed below).

The science behind this is truly fascinating!

When we're stressed or anxious, our breath patterns tend to be shallow and rapid, triggering our "fight-or-flight" response. You have the power to flip that switch. By practicing breathwork, you can activate the parasympathetic nervous system—the "rest and digest" mode—which helps to lower your heart rate, reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), and promote relaxation.

As you may know, I work in the beauty industry which can be exhilarating, but it can also be downright draining. And that is exactly what drew me to this practice... between the long hours, the demand, and the constant pressure to stay on top of trends, it's so easy to have a completely empty cup. The best solution I've found to refill is turning inward through introspective practices like breathwork, meditation, and journaling.

Breathwork is my secret weapon for thriving in this fast-paced world. Let's tap into this secret reset button for your nervous system! 

To list out some of the benefits:

Stress Reduction & Burnout Prevention at it's finest. When that challenging day throws you off balance or your schedule feels packed to the brim, breathwork can quickly calm your nervous system, lower your heart rate, and bring you back to a place of peace and clarity.
Improved Focus & Productivity. Ever feel like your mind is racing with a million to-dosyou anchor into the present momentrealign your focus. Plus, when you're focused, you're more efficient, which means you can create more space in your schedule for the things you truly love.
Enhanced Creativity & Intuition. Taking the time to experience breathwork can guide you into your creative flow and intuition. You're clearing the mental clutter to make space for those brilliant ideas and insights to come through.
Deeper Connection to Self. When you're grounded and centered, you're able to be more present with yourself and the people in your life. This leads to better communication, deeper trust, and ultimately, a more rewarding experience for all parties.

So, how does It work again?

• Calming the Nervous System. Somatic Breathwork activates the parasympathetic nervous system, responsible for relaxation and restoration.
• Oxygenating the Body. Deep, conscious breathing increases oxygen flow to the brain, improving cognitive function and reducing stress hormones.
• Shifting Your Mindset. Breathwork can interrupt negative thought patterns, allowing you to cultivate a more positive and empowered perspective.

Below I'm going to share a simple breath pattern that you can practice at home, right away!

Easy breath pattern to try RIGHT NOW!

Okay friends, now that you know how incredible breathwork can be, let's get into a simple breath exercise you can use to reconnect and melt away stress, anxiety, etc. This can be done literally anywhere and anytime to bring a little calm and clarity into your busy life.

The 4-7-8 Breath

Your ticket to instant relaxation! It's particularly helpful for easing anxiety, lowering your heart rate, calming a racing mind that can't stop thinking abotu WORK lol, and promoting restful sleep.

• How it's Done:
  1. Find a comfy space that brings you a sense of calm and safety. You can lay down flat on your back (no pillow) or sit up straight with your legs crossed (If you prefer t to sit crossed legged, I recommend putting a folded blanket or cushion under your seat, positioning your rear towards the edge for extra support)
  2. Silence your devices to no notifications. If you prefer put on a set of noise cancelling headphones and search for some binaural beats or relaxing meditative music.
  3. Close your eyes. Relax the muscles of your face and body.
  4. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a count of four. As you inhale, focus on filling up your belly rather than your chest. Keep your shoulders relaxed.
  5. Once you've inhaled for a count of 4. Hold your breath at the top, for a count of seven. Keeping your inhale in your belly and your body.
  6. Exhale completely through your mouth, with the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, you should be making a whooshing sound! Exhale for a count of eight.
  7. This is one cycle. Repeat four more times to experience the benefits. Five more times if you want better, more blissful feelings.
  8. Once completed take a second to slowly open your eyes, wiggle your fingers and toes, and reflect on how you feel now after the practice. Maybe asking yourself a couple questions like: 
     1. After practicing the breathwork pattern I feel: ______.
     2. Did I have anything come up for me during the practice? Thoughts, feelings, insights, etc?

If you try this 4-7-8 breathwork practice please let me know how it resonated with you. I love to talk about this stuff! Interested in diving into breathwork more?

I offer private immersive breathwork sessions! 

Book a session with me below and experience the magic for yourself! This is your invitation to click the link below and read a very thorough service description of what a private curated 1 on 1 session with me looks like!

Book Here

Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions by navigating to my FAQ and contact page! I can't wait to support you on your journey to deeper relaxation, clarity, and self-discovery.

xoxo dm ✨🦂🤍