In this episode of Influential Breathwork, Anna Parker-Naples explores the connection between breathwork and sleep, discussing how breathing patterns affect sleep quality and the science behind various breathing techniques. She highlights research on the benefits of controlled breathing for improving sleep and addresses common sleep disorders like sleep apnea. The episode also covers practical breathing exercises and the importance of understanding the autonomic nervous system in relation to sleep. Anna concludes with a look at future research in the field and the potential of breathwork as a tool for better sleep.takeaways

• Sleep occurs in cycles lasting about 90 minutes.
• Breathing patterns change during different sleep stages.
• Slow deep breathing exercises can improve sleep quality.
• Controlled breathing can increase melatonin production.
• Sleep apnea affects millions and disrupts sleep patterns.
• The 4-7-8 technique can help reduce anxiety before sleep.
• Diaphragmatic breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Breathing through the nose reduces stress and improves sleep.
• Mouth taping can enhance sleep quality significantly.
• Research is ongoing into breathwork's impact on insomnia.

Chapters

00:00 The Science of Breathwork and Sleep

03:02 Breathing Techniques for Better Sleep

05:43 The Role of Controlled Breathing in Sleep Quality

08:58 Future Research and Conclusion on Breathwork and Sleep

This episode is about stress relief and how to use breath to manage stress levels. Anna Parker-Naples explains that stress is a natural response that activates the sympathetic nervous system, but chronic stress can have negative effects on mental and heart health. She guides the audience through breathing exercises to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and promote relaxation. The exercises include belly breathing, expanding the ribs, and slowing down the breath. Anna also discusses the importance of accessing the body's wisdom and offers techniques for relieving stress during heightened emotional states.

Takeaways

Stress is a natural response that activates the sympathetic nervous system.

Chronic stress can have negative effects on mental and heart health.

Breathing exercises can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and promote relaxation.

Techniques like belly breathing, rib expansion, and slow breath can help manage stress levels.

Accessing the body's wisdom can provide insights and relief during heightened emotional states.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Stress Relief and Breathwork

00:47 Understanding the Impact of Stress on the Body

05:53 Breathing Exercises for Immediate Stress Relief

16:13 Building Resilience Through Breathwork

22:57 Using Breathwork for Emotional Stress

26:47 Practical Tips for Using Breathwork in Daily Life

In this episode, Anna Parker-Naples explores the connection between breathwork and somatic therapy. Breathwork refers to various breathing techniques that improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Somatic therapy is a holistic form of body-centered therapy that looks at the connection between the mind and body and uses psychotherapy and physical therapies for healing. Somatic therapy believes that the body holds onto experiences, emotions, and traumas. Breathwork can be a component of somatic therapy, as it allows individuals to become more aware of their body sensations and release tension and stored emotions. However, not all breathwork techniques are somatic therapy.

Breath holds can have both risks and rewards. They can change the biochemistry of our body, increase CO2 levels, and impact our blood pH levels. Breath holds can be voluntary or involuntary, with potential long-term effects on mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The benefits of breath holds include improving tolerance to CO2, enhancing lung capacity, and reducing stress levels. However, there are risks associated with breath holds, such as blackouts, hypoxia, and stress on the cardiovascular system. It is important to practice breath holds safely and under supervision.

In this episode, Anna Parker-Naples discusses the concept of felt sense and how breath work can help tap into it. Felt sense refers to a strong physical awareness and experience of the body. By tuning into the messages from different parts of the body, such as the belly or shoulders, and fully experiencing them, we can release tension and make better decisions. Felt sense is different from thoughts and emotions, and it allows us to access our inner wisdom and improve clarity. Incorporating felt sense awareness into daily life can reduce stress and enhance emotional regulation.

Takeaways

Felt sense is about having a strong physical awareness and experience of the body.

Tuning into the messages from different parts of the body and fully experiencing them can help release tension and make better decisions.

Felt sense is different from thoughts and emotions, and it allows us to access our inner wisdom and improve clarity.

Incorporating felt sense awareness into daily life can reduce stress and enhance emotional regulation.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Felt Sense

01:16 Tapping Into Intuitive Wisdom

02:39 The Power of Breath

03:29 Interpreting Messages from the Body

05:57 The Power of Felt Sense Awareness

06:19 Enhancing Decision-Making and Emotional Regulation

06:48 Incorporating Felt Sense Awareness into Everyday Life

07:14 Listening to the Messages from the Body

08:06 Becoming More in Tune with Yourself

In this episode, Anna Parker-Naples discusses subconscious release and breathwork. The subconscious mind is a massive library that filters, sorts, and categorizes experiences. Through techniques like hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, and breathwork, we can change the way we operate in the world by loosening the model within our subconscious mind. Breathwork allows us to access the subconscious and release limiting beliefs and patterns. Our thoughts, behaviors, and well-being are influenced by the subconscious, and over 80% of our thoughts are repetitive. Breathwork can help us take control of our emotional states and interrupt negative patterns.TakeawaysThe subconscious mind filters, sorts, and categorizes experiences.Breathwork allows us to access the subconscious and release limiting beliefs and patterns.Over 80% of our thoughts are repetitive.Breathwork can help us take control of our emotional states and interrupt negative patterns.Subconscious release through breathwork can lead to emotional healing, resolution of challenges, improved self-awareness, and reduced anxiety and stress.Chapters00:00 Understanding the Subconscious Mind01:43 The Power of Breathwork in Subconscious Release03:18 Taking Control of Emotional States through Breathwork04:12 Reprogramming Limiting Beliefs and Patterns06:01 The Benefits of Subconscious Release through Breathwork

Breathing through the nose has numerous benefits, including filtration, warming and moisturizing of the air, and the release of nitric oxide. Mouth breathing can lead to stress, facial changes, and shallow chest breathing. Breathing through the nose activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and restorative functions. Mouth taping can help retrain the body to breathe through the nose. Nose breathing improves physical and mental health, immune function, and gut health.

Takeaways

Breathing through the nose filters and prevents toxins from entering the body.

Nose breathing warms and moisturizes the air, optimizing its temperature and consistency for the lungs.

Mouth breathing can lead to stress, facial changes, and shallow chest breathing.

Nose breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and restorative functions.

Mouth taping can help retrain the body to breathe through the nose.

Nose breathing improves physical and mental health, immune function, and gut health.

Chapters

00:00 The Benefits of Breathing Through Your Nose

02:32 The Filtration and Moisturization Process of Nose Breathing

03:52 The Negative Effects of Mouth Breathing

05:09 The Impact of Nose Breathing on Facial Structure

06:01 The Connection Between Breathing and Stress Levels

07:51 Retraining Ourselves to Breathe Through the Nose

Trauma overwhelms an individual's ability to process and integrate experiences. It can be a single incident or repeated exposure to traumatic events. Trauma gets stuck in the body when there is incomplete processing due to dissociation during fight, flight, or freeze responses. This leads to an overactive amygdala and reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex. Somatic manifestations of trauma include muscle pain, chronic pain, altered breathing patterns, disrupted sleep, and digestive issues. Breathwork, specifically conscious connected breathing, can help release trauma by regulating the autonomic nervous system and allowing the body to rest and repair. It can also help release stored tension, emotions, and reconnect the mind and body. Breathwork activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reduces cortisol, and increases endorphins and oxytocin. It enhances brain activity, neuroplasticity, and cognitive function. Breathwork is a powerful somatic therapy that can be combined with traditional trauma therapies.

Takeaways

Trauma overwhelms an individual's ability to process and integrate experiences.

Breathwork can help release trauma by regulating the autonomic nervous system and allowing the body to rest and repair.

Breathwork can help release stored tension, emotions, and reconnect the mind and body.

Breathwork activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reduces cortisol, and increases endorphins and oxytocin.

Breathwork enhances brain activity, neuroplasticity, and cognitive function.

Breathwork is a powerful somatic therapy that can be combined with traditional trauma therapies.

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Trauma and its Effects

02:07 How Trauma Gets Stuck in the Body

04:34 The Power of Breathwork in Releasing Trauma

05:53 Reconnecting the Mind and Body through Breathwork

08:09 Processing Difficult Emotions with Breathwork

13:13 Breathwork as a Complementary Therapy for Trauma