Breathing is not just a life-sustaining function; it also plays a critical role in managing our mental and physical health. At Academy West Breathing Performance in Bend, OR, we specialize in using functional breathing techniques to help individuals manage conditions such as anxiety and high blood pressure.
By learning how to control and optimize your breathing through out your day (not just at certain times), you can significantly impact your overall well-being.
The Link Between Breathing, Anxiety, and High Blood Pressure
There is a strong connection between the way we breathe and our emotional and physical states. Our breathing governs our autonomic nervous system. Shallow or rapid breathing can trigger the body’s stress response (fight/flight/freeze), leading to increased anxiety and elevated blood pressure. We will collectively call this type pf breathing "dysfunctional" in that it relies on muscles that use a tremendous amount of energy and send problematic signals to our nervous system.
Conversely, learning to control your breathing through functional mechanics can help calm the nervous system, lower blood pressure, and reduce feelings of anxiety (rest/digest/grow). At Academy West in Bend, OR, our approach focuses on teaching you how to use your breathing as a tool for managing these conditions. In short, we show you what functional breathing is and how to do it all the time, especially in the moments and activities that matter the most in your life.
Conscious breathing trains subconscious breathing. That means that you can nudge your breathing system! They way you breathe 15-20 time on purpose can begin to influence the other 20,000 breaths you'll take that day. The more you nudge, the more your system gets trained. We've seen this occur thousands of times as people gradually retrain their subconscious breathing to become more functional.
Functional Breathing Techniques for Anxiety Management
Functional breathing exercises are designed to help regulate your breathing and make it more consistent. Since our nervous system is wired into our breathing, slowing breathing and own and making it more functional activates the parasympathetic nervous system, and promote a state of calm - even when the situation doesn't seem calm at all.
At Academy West, we you give you a deep understanding of what the anatomy is doing, how it all fits together, and how to control your breathing so that you can begin to master this movement.
These techniques are tailored to your specific needs, ensuring that you can integrate them into your routine effectively, whether you are a fitness junky, a weekend warrior, or someone who is recovering or rehabilitating from a surgery or bout of illness. Biologically speaking, humans breathe how we feel and feel how we breathe, so mastering your breathing means you can impact how you feel when you need to the most.
Managing High Blood Pressure with Functional Breathing
High blood pressure, or hypertension, can be influenced by stress and poor breathing habits. Our idea of putting your functional breathing first therapy at Academy West Breathing Performance focuses on building exercise and movement from your breathing outward.
So often we are told to do things and then "just breathe", but by prioritizing your breathing first, you make sure the most important structures are moving in ways that are both supportive and helpful. Exercising this way ensures that everything you do will also promote relaxation, enhance oxygen & CO2 levels, and reduce the physiological stress on the cardiovascular system.
CO2 is a powerful vasodilator, which means it opens your blood vessels and helps manage high blood pressure. The same thing can be said of NO or Nitric Oxide, a potent chemical that is produced in your nose. They both contribute to lowering blood pressure.
Additionally, when we are breathing functionally, we are taking advantage of our diaphragm which acts like a giant pump for circulation. In fact, the role of breathing in pumping every body system is often missed because we tend to think that the heart pumps all of our blood. It turns out that much of our pumping movement depends on how our breathing muscles work together. By shifting toward a functional breathing pattern, our heart doesn't have to work so hard.
By incorporating these functional breathing practices into your life, you can help lower your blood pressure and improve your overall heart health. Whether your goal is to reduce stress, reduce the number and amount of medications required, or simply just to understand more about your body, functional breathing is the single best investment you can make.
The Science Behind Functional Breathing and Healthy Living
Research has shown that functional breathing can have a profound impact on both mental and physical health. Controlled breathing techniques help regulate the autonomic nervous system, which in turn influences heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. Breathing impacts every system in the body.
Our breathing pumps blood throughout the body. Breathing pumps lymphatic fluid, your circulatory sewer system, and helps pump the kidneys and liver which filter blood and urine. Breathing pumps. digestion and keeps things moving, preventing constipation, diarrhea, cramps. Breathing stands our body upright by providing structural support to the spine and skull. Our teeth, skin, face, and shape of our body in general is created by the movement of our breathing 20,000 times each day.
At Academy West in Bend, OR, we integrate this scientific understanding into our functional breathing programs, ensuring that the techniques you learn are not only effective but also grounded in research.
Building a Personalized Functional Breathing Plan
At Academy West, we understand that each person’s experience with anxiety and high blood pressure is unique. That’s why we work closely with you to develop a functional breathing plan that suits your individual needs.
Whether you need daily exercises to manage stress or targeted techniques to lower blood pressure during specific situations, our personalized approach ensures that you receive the most effective care.
Functional breathing is a powerful tool in managing anxiety and high blood pressure. At Academy West in Bend, OR, our specialized breathing techniques are designed to help you take control of your health and well-being by improving how you breathe.
If you’re struggling with anxiety or high blood pressure, functional breathing may be the solution you’ve been looking for.
Contact Academy West Breathing Performance in Bend, OR, today to learn more about our breathing therapy programs and start your journey to better health.
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