Change Your Breath, Change Your Life
Would You Like a Coffee, Whiskey or Water (Breath)?
Your body and mind follow your breath like a band follows the conductor. Knowing this, we can conduct the band to play music for whatever occasion we desire.
Let’s say you’re stressed, your breath can help you calm down. Or let’s say you’re tired, breathing a certain way can lift you up. Or maybe you just need balance, there’s a breath for that too.
Let’s grab a beverage… By choosing the beverage, you’re really choosing the effect you want.
Water, Whiskey and Coffee … Breath!
Water Breath will even you out, not too hyper, not to chill. Whiskey Breath, well yeah, that’s to kick back and chill. And Coffee Breath will get you pumped up.
All this without caffeine jitters or a boozy hangover!
To summarize:
Water Breath will even you out.
Whiskey Breath will chill you out.
Coffee Breath will lift you up.
And with any breathing routine, just do what’s comfortable and return to your regular breathing if even feeling any discomfort.
Let’s get started with a cool drink of H2O…
Water Breath … Brings Balance
- A breathing rate between 4 and 6 breaths a minute.
- Equal counts on the inhale and exhale, no breath retention.
Here’s how:
- Breath into your nose, to the count 1–2–3–4–5.
- Breath out your nose, to the count 1–2–3–4–5.
- Repeat as needed.
Water Breath can be done anytime, anywhere to get back on level. It’s a great way to leave behind mental chatter and focus on the here-and-now. For your breath is always in the present moment!
Whiskey Breath … Brings Calm and Rest
- A breathing rate under 4 breaths a minute.
- A longer exhale than inhale, with breath retention.
Here’s how:
- Breath into your nose, to the count 1–2–3–4.
- Hold for a count 1–2–3–4
- Breath out your nose, to the count 1–2–3–4–5–6–7
- Hold for a count 1–2–3–4
- Repeat as needed.
Whiskey Breath, with the longer exhales, activates the rest-and-digest response, so always do sitting or lying down. Perfect for a work de-stressor, after a meal, or before bed.
Coffee Breath … Fires You Up
- A breathing rate with more than 20 breaths a minute.
- A longer inhale then exhale, no breath retention.
Here’s how:
- Breathe the air out your nose forcefully, like a sneeze
- Let the air refill your lungs naturally on their own.
- Quickly breathe out through your nose again.
- Repeat for 10 rounds. Rest. Then go another 10 if needed
Coffee Breath activates the fight-or-flight response, so best done to wake up, or before an exercise. Don’t do more than 5 minutes at a time. Skip if you have any type of hypertension or heart issues.
Bonus: Square Breathing (one of my favorites)
Uses four equal counts like the four sides of a square.
First, exhale fully.
- Inhale for a count of 5 seconds
- Hold it for a count of 5 seconds
- Exhale for a count of 5 seconds
- Hold out for a count of 5 seconds
- Repeat until calm yet alert.
I use this when I’m nervous, or what I have thoughts going a million miles and hour and I want them to just calm down.
Note that for some, square breathing can be incredibly relaxing to the point of wanting to sleep. Others find they can use it so stay calm yet attentive through the day. Everyone is different, so the best approach is to try it sitting down first to see how if affects you.
If you liked these, there’s more as an ebook or a paperback for your coffee table: The Breath Book: 12 Ways to Discover the Power of Your Breath.
This article is for informational purposes only, and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.