Breathing is something we do all day long, often without giving it a second thought. Yet it is a powerful tool for influencing our physical and mental state. In his video, Yoran Hensel explains what functional breathing is and how you can apply it in your daily life to feel and perform better.
What is functional breathing?
Functional breathing means breathing in a way that matches the activity or state you are in. This means your breathing varies depending on what you are doing:
- During exertion, such as running, it is normal to breathe faster and sometimes through your mouth.
- At rest, you breathe calmly and deeply into your belly, which helps you relax and calms your nervous system.
By adapting your breathing to your situation, you give your body the best possible support.
Chest breathing versus belly breathing
Yoran explains that chest breathing often occurs during stress or busy times. This type of breathing activates the sympathetic nervous system, which puts your body on alert. That is useful in stressful situations, but if you breathe into your chest all the time, it can lead to tension and restlessness.
Belly breathing, on the other hand, where you use your diaphragm to breathe in deeply, activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This promotes relaxation and recovery. So it is important to consciously breathe into your belly during quiet moments.
Becoming aware of your breathing
The first step towards better breathing is observing how you breathe. Yoran advises pausing several times a day to notice how you are breathing:
- Sit quietly and feel your breath coming in and going out again.
- Notice whether you breathe high in your chest or deep in your belly.
- With this awareness, you can steer your breathing and thereby influence your state of mind.
Exercises for calm and energy
Want to calm down? Sit down, close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply into your belly. Above all, try to lengthen your exhalation, because a longer out-breath lowers your heart rate and brings you into a relaxed state.
Do you find it difficult to breathe into your belly? Then practise it, for example by placing your hand on your belly in bed in the evening and calmly trying to let your belly rise as you breathe in, without forcing it.
Want to become more active instead? Then you can speed up and deepen your breathing a little, especially towards your chest. This activates your body and gives you more energy.
The power of breathing
Breathing is a direct way to change your state of being. By breathing consciously, you can calm yourself down, activate yourself or simply feel better. It is a simple but effective tool that is always available.
