Why Breathwork Works When Meditation Isn’t Enough: A Powerful Tool for Workplace Wellbeing
The growing need for mental wellbeing provision in workplaces is undeniable. However, the challenge that often surfaces is how best to implement mental wellbeing initiatives in a fast-paced work environment.
Meditation has many benefits, but those who try to practise it may find that a busy office environment is not conducive to its success.
Breathwork is a practical, impactful alternative for stress management and resilience. The active, guided methodology of breathwork means that participants often feel it is more accessible and effective for the workplace.
Meditation vs. Breathwork: Key Differences
If you’ve yet to try either of these practices, you may be under the impression that the two terms are interchangeable or simply not be fully aware of the differences between the two.
The key differences are:
Meditation, whilst proven to be successful in fostering resilience and improving stress management, can be a tricky skill to master, especially for those with busy minds. Breathwork, by comparison, is an easier entry point for those who struggle with traditional meditation.
Why Breathwork Is More Accessible?
In very simple terms - breathing is always available! Practising breathwork does not require any special setting, and anyone can do it. If you can breathe, you can do breathwork!
Breathwork can be especially effective for busy professionals. Short exercises that fit into the working day can deliver quick wins. For example, why not try a breathwork re-set in preparation for a meeting or lunchtime stress relief? Taking five minutes to carry out some breathwork exercises before you tackle a tricky meeting could change the course of your day.
Breathwork’s Impact on the Nervous System
So how does Breathwork actually work, and what’s the science behind it?
Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which shifts the body’s physical state from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest. The rest-and-digest state promotes calm, which in turn enhances focus, clarity, and decision-making under pressure.
And all through the power of short, structured breathing exercises – that’s some impressive science!
Benefits for the Workplace
Breathwork is beneficial for everyone, but having seen the results first-hand with my corporate clients, I can definitively tell you that making time for workplace breathwork will positively impact so many different areas.
Just some of the benefits include:
How to Introduce Breathwork to Your Team
The best way to introduce breathwork to your team is to start with short, accessible practices (e.g., box breathing and SOMA-energised breath meditation – see my previous newsletter for examples of these exercises).
I work with a range of corporate clients to design breathwork programmes that work for their businesses and their teams. You may want to consider launching a pilot program to test engagement and impact and ensure the right approach for you.
Holistic health and wellbeing initiatives are so important for the modern workplace and breathwork will be a powerful addition to your wellbeing strategy. If you want to nurture your team’s resilience and stress management skills, get in touch with me to find out how I can help.
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Career Change | Career Development Coach – helping you overcome limiting beliefs, relieve ‘stuckness’ and gain a fulfilling career
6 天前Breathworks has been amazing for slowing down thoughts and emotions and reducing anxiety. For me, I got better at meditation after I learnt and regularly practiced Breathworks, I feel because I could switch off my brain more quickly.