I learned pranayama (yoga breathing) when I completed my yoga training in India back in 2012. If I’m honest I was more captivated by the physical postures than breathing but that all changed after my car accident in 2013 where I suffered multiple injuries, the most significant a traumatic brain injury and I broke C5 in my neck.
At the beginning of my recovery, movement was no longer an option as I spent 3 months in a halo brace, so meditation, mindfulness and breathing became important tools in my toolkit to cope with anxiety, PTSD and overwhelm.
I became so fascinated by breathing that I read many books on the topic, attended several workshops with Patrick McKeown (Director of the Buteyko Breathing Method clinic), and became a Yoga Alliance certified breath coach in September 2020.
I have tried and tested these techniques in various situations in my own life because as a teacher I want to be sure that the information I am giving is correct and effective. I like to learn from my own felt experiences!
I have utilised yoga breathing during simple things like hair removal and dental appointments to more stressful procedures like during my colonoscopy and IVF instead of sedation.
I once taught yoga breathing to an athlete who failed his pre-race medical due to his blood pressure being too high. We worked together for 10 minutes and brought his blood pressure down from 190 to 120 and after being reassessed, he passed his medical and was able to compete.Â
Altering your breathing pattern is literally the fastest way to speak to your nervous system and I can attest to the practices I teach.