We often forget the power of our breath. It’s with us all the time, yet we lose sight of each inhale and exhale—and more importantly, their potential. Your breath is a big player in the game of detoxification and can be a great complement to help find balance and health in the body, mind and spirit.
Why detox?
Toxins aren’t as obvious as you may think, and they’re not just in the foods you consume.
Research has shown that cancer, neurological diseases, and chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and arthritis are directly related to toxicity. These can be caused by exposure to toxic substances or through lack of sufficient nutrient support for detoxification.
It is likely that at least 25% of the US population is suffering from heavy metal poisoning. But where are these toxins coming from?
The EPA estimated that in 1994 alone, over 2.2 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released into the environment in the US. By 2002 EPA estimated this amount had grown to 4.7 billion pounds.
We are exposed to toxins in the things we consume as well as the things we are exposed to every day such as food, water, air, sunlight, technology and more!
Organs of Detoxification
Each organ has it’s own special requirements related to detoxification, and a season of strength. Fall is large intestine and lung time, making it a great time to focus on detoxifying via diet and breath.
Fall is a time for letting go and moving on from those things and behaviors that are not nurturing our best possible life. It is a time to instead grasp hold of those things and behaviors that do promote our best possible life. It’s also harvest time when we decide what to hold on to to nurture us through the winter.
Breath and detoxification
Your breath can be a powerful regulator in the body. Think about when you are scared, nervous, angry, excited or exerting a lot of energy. Your breath may become labored, short, choppy. Now, think about when you are calm, happy, resting or relaxed. Your breath is most likely steady, even and fluid.
By regulating or manipulating your breath, you can also regulate and manipulate other aspects of the body and mind.
The same is true when using the breath for detoxification purposes. The following breathing exercises are great tools for detoxifying the body as well as grounding the mind during fall season of transition, change and cleaning house.
4-7-8 breath:
Interested in learning more about detox methods? Join us on September 16 for our Fall Equinox Detox session at 3:00 p.m.
Why detox?
Toxins aren’t as obvious as you may think, and they’re not just in the foods you consume.
Research has shown that cancer, neurological diseases, and chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia and arthritis are directly related to toxicity. These can be caused by exposure to toxic substances or through lack of sufficient nutrient support for detoxification.
It is likely that at least 25% of the US population is suffering from heavy metal poisoning. But where are these toxins coming from?
The EPA estimated that in 1994 alone, over 2.2 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released into the environment in the US. By 2002 EPA estimated this amount had grown to 4.7 billion pounds.
We are exposed to toxins in the things we consume as well as the things we are exposed to every day such as food, water, air, sunlight, technology and more!
Organs of Detoxification
Each organ has it’s own special requirements related to detoxification, and a season of strength. Fall is large intestine and lung time, making it a great time to focus on detoxifying via diet and breath.
Fall is a time for letting go and moving on from those things and behaviors that are not nurturing our best possible life. It is a time to instead grasp hold of those things and behaviors that do promote our best possible life. It’s also harvest time when we decide what to hold on to to nurture us through the winter.
Breath and detoxification
Your breath can be a powerful regulator in the body. Think about when you are scared, nervous, angry, excited or exerting a lot of energy. Your breath may become labored, short, choppy. Now, think about when you are calm, happy, resting or relaxed. Your breath is most likely steady, even and fluid.
By regulating or manipulating your breath, you can also regulate and manipulate other aspects of the body and mind.
The same is true when using the breath for detoxification purposes. The following breathing exercises are great tools for detoxifying the body as well as grounding the mind during fall season of transition, change and cleaning house.
4-7-8 breath:
- Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge behind your upper teeth and exhale completely through your mouth so that you make a whoosh sound.
- Close your mouth and inhale deeply through your nose for a count 4, hold your breath for 7 counts, then exhale through your mouth for a count of 8.
- Repeat three times.
- Get comfortable: Sit in a meditation posture, whatever is most comfortable for you. Make sure you can expand your lungs freely without feeling any constriction. It is recommended to do this practice right after waking up since your stomach is still empty or before a meal.
- 30 Power Breaths: Imagine you’re blowing up a balloon. Inhale through the nose or mouth and exhale through the mouth in short but powerful bursts. Keep a steady pace and use your midriff fully. Close your eyes and do this around 30 times. Symptoms could be lightheadedness, tingling sensations in the body.
- The Hold, retention after exhalation: After the 30 rapid successions of breath cycles, draw the breath in once more and fill the lungs to maximum capacity without using any force. Then let the air out and hold for as long as you can without force. Hold the breath until you experience the gasp reflex.
- Recovery Breath: Inhale to full capacity. Feel your chest expanding. When you are at full capacity, hold the breath for around 10 seconds and this will be round one. The breathing exercise can be repeated 3 rounds after each other.
- After having completed the breathing exercise take your time to enjoy the feeling afterward. This feeling will be more and more like a meditation.
Interested in learning more about detox methods? Join us on September 16 for our Fall Equinox Detox session at 3:00 p.m.
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