So, what is this ‘breathwork’ malarkey all about?

Myles McKenna from An Dagda Therapy explains

There’s been lots of chatter recently about breathwork and the benefits it can have to your health. But what’s it really all about? Myles McKenna from An Dagda Therapy explains.

To begin with, breathwork isn’t everything, but it’s the key that can unlock everything else. You’ve been breathing since you were born. Your first physical act on this earth was to inhale. And regardless of what famous last words you may pour out, your last act will be to exhale. You breathe millions of times in between, so it may come as a surprise to you that the vast majority of us don’t even do it right.

What do you mean – I breathe in, I breathe out, what’s not right about that?

Well for starters you are most likely breathing through your mouth. It’s not your fault, for generations we have slowly become mouth breathers, bypassing the very internal mechanisms designed to keep us breathing correctly. Imagine a car or your vacuum cleaner without an air filter – it wouldn’t last very long would it? And just imagine all the pollutants it would let pass. Mouth breathing bypasses your nose’s natural filter, which traps dust and allergens while producing nitric oxide to help kill airborne pathogens before they reach your lungs. Mouth breathing is linked to issues like snoring and poor sleep quality. Yes that incessant noise beside you at night time can be cured! Not only that but improving your breath can be a powerful tool in managing among others, symptoms of IBS, high blood pressure, and chronic stress.

Next, our bodies can be read like a well written book if we only learn the language it’s written in. For instance, if you get a fright you take a gasp of air; your brain has sent a signal through your nervous system to your diaphragm to breathe in quickly, and you take in a sharp breath, the ‘death avoidance’ reflex. It takes your mind a moment to catch up and explain back to you what just happened. And it’s not just a fright, every experience or emotion you feel every moment of the day has its own breathing pattern.

That’s all great, but what difference can that make for me?

Modern life has so many good points and benefits, that’s undeniable. But it also has us all walking around like tightly wound coils of stress ready to burst forth onto some unexpecting loved one or passerby at any moment. It doesn’t have to be like that. Let me repeat: IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT. While the stress reflex is automatic, how long you stay in that state is something you can influence. You have the power to signal your body to switch from stress to calm. Being in a state of chronic stress is not your fault, it’s practically a way of life now. But with a little help and encouragement you can repair yourself and improve your life exorbitantly. Think of a sleeping newborn baby. They don’t have a care in the world: grown ups all around to care for their every need. Watch how they breathe, controlled and the belly expanding fully on every breath. But not us adults. Because we all breathe in through our mouths we have become programmed to breathe ineffectually high into our chest, not getting a full breath or the benefit of the air we take in. We only absorb a fraction of the oxygen we inhale: efficient breathing ensures your body actually maximises that intake.

Breathe in through your nose and into your belly and you have already taken a huge stride forward in your personal health.

It’s too simple, how can that possibly make any difference?

Here comes another buzzword: vagus nerve. Your autonomic nervous system has two main branches: your sympathetic and parasympathetic. Both are required to live a healthy life, but only if they are in balance. At some point along our evolution, our lifestyle moved our bodies into a state of chronic sympathetic dominance, meaning we're stuck in 'high gear' even when there's no danger. Think of it this way: your sympathetic is your fight-or-flight reactionary state. Without it we would have never escaped from all those wild beasts of our past (thanks ancestors!) We need it to jolt ourselves into action or to recognise and run away from danger. But the important thing here is that we should visit the sympathetic but not live there.

In contrast, your parasympathetic is your rest-and-restore, or rest-and-digest state. Social media is currently full of offers to ‘reset your vagus nerve’. To do this is to send a message between your brain and your body to say you are in no danger and you can rest here in safety. This is where we should be living, and with a little work this is where you can return to. With just a few techniques practiced daily you can return to the blissful existence you can’t even imagine right now. Give yourself just 5-10 minutes daily and it will give you such a life changing experience that the only regret you will have is that you didn’t start sooner.

Great, another thing for my to-do list. Who has 5-10 minutes free?

Well here’s the beauty of it all. With the right techniques you don’t have to set aside any time in your day. With a little guidance you can practice your exercises when you are waiting on the bus, in the queue for your morning coffee, waiting in line at the grocery store. And nobody around you even knows you are doing it.

In just four one-hour classes I will give you the tools to change your life. I don’t teach you fanciful techniques you can only practice with supervision or on a mat when pulling a funny face. I teach you sustainable everyday techniques you can incorporate into your daily routine with ease.

Still don’t believe me? Well I challenge you to try it out for yourself on my next course. Give yourself the gift of just 4 hours and in return I will give you a life skill that will not only change your life for the better, but you can easily pass on to others too.

Is that all there is to it?

No. Breathwork practice can offer so much more. It is so accessible that it can meet you exactly where you need it to be. Not only can it help you manage your daily life but it can also help you reach deep inside yourself and access heal and overcome difficult emotions, past hurt and pain, and trauma. I do not see it as an Alternative Therapy but instead as Complementary to other therapies and practices. This level of deep work requires caution however and I only undertake this work with people who are completely at ease with themselves or those who have an active professional support network around them. This work can be a game changer in your life but only if it is undertaken with a practitioner who works with integrity and is able to hold a place of safety strength and security for you. If you are interested in this deep work, reach out to me and we will discuss it fully, making sure that you feel safe and held before we undertake any practical work.

Myles McKenna is a Performance and Wellness Facilitator at An Dagda Therapy. His new course, Learn to Breathe for a Healthy Lifestyle, is run over four classes. Your commitment is just 1-hour per week and then some practice in your own time. He limits the number of people per class so you get a more personal experience. It’s suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

You don’t have to buy any expensive equipment. For in-class sessions you just turn up on your own and he provides the rest. He also offers 1-2-1 coaching sessions for a more personal touch.

Myles runs regular courses online and in various local centres. You can contact him for upcoming course dates. Book quickly as spaces fill up fast. You can register your interest by contacting Myles on WhatsApp +353 87 749 8164 or at myles@andagdatherapy.com. You will also find more information on www.andagdatherapy.com. You can keep up to date with him on Instagram and Facebook @andagdatherapy.