As wellness junkies, a question we’re often asked is:
What’s the difference between meditation and breathwork, and which one is best for my health?
And honestly, they’re quite similar: both are mindfulness practices, and both promote physical and mental health benefits.
Meditation tends to be harder for people to practice with regularity than breathwork, since meditation involves sitting in one place for extended periods of time.
When we sit still and quiet, all of the racing thoughts, feelings and sensations rise to the surface.
When done properly, meditation can improve our attention span, reduce memory loss, improve sleep quality, and reduce stress.
But meditation presupposes correct breathing, while breathwork, on the other hand, actually focuses on changing HOW you breathe so that you CAN breathe properly.
Breathwork is like a workout for your nervous system.
It’s an active meditation practice that enables you to disconnect from the mind and be guided by the body.
Practicing it consistently can regulate your autonomic nervous system and immediately reduce stress and increase confidence.
So, when you’re trying to decide whether meditation or breathwork is best for you, ask yourself:
- What do I hope to gain from my mindfulness practice?
- What benefits most appeal to me?
- What can I feasibly and sustainably practice everyday?
There are endless benefits to learning how to live in the present and learning how to breathe properly.
If you’d like to learn more about these two mindfulness practices, reply to this email or give us a call :)
