
In a Swiss study, twelve healthy medical students hyperventilated. When the blood vessels widens, more oxygen-rich blood reaches the brain, and the stressed, oxygen-hungry “panic-brain” can relax. The reason for this is the relaxing and dilating effect that carbon dioxide has on the blood vessels. The exhaled air contains approximately 100 times as much carbon dioxide as the inhaled air, so when you re-inhale the exhaled air in bag breathing, your carbon dioxide pressure naturally rises, and your anxiety or fear of flying is calmed thanks to an increased amount of oxygen being carried to your brain. For example, during an anxiety attack or when experiencing fear of flying, it’s common to breathe into and out of a bag, so you re-inhale some of the exhaled air. A normal carbon dioxide pressure is connected to relaxation. Oxygen is taken in from the outside, while carbon dioxide is produced in the body. This breathing increases the levels of oxygen and lowers the carbon dioxide pressure in the body at the same time. Many of us breathe too much, a low-level form of hyperventilation. The Wim Hof method is extremely popular, and he is something of a rock star in the breathing community 🙂 Many who practice the exercises experience better health. This activates the sympathetic system, our fight and flight system, and increases our levels of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. It says to take large breaths and breathe forcefully and powerfully, often through the mouth. The Iceman, teaches is pretty much the opposite. This makes us relax and triggers the parasympathetic system, which is our ‘rest and digest’ system. In Conscious Breathing, we often talk about the seven good breathing habits, where we strive for a slow, low, small, rhythmic breathing, inhaling and exhaling through the nose as much as possible during the 1,000 breaths we take each hour. Which way to breathe is correct? Which method is best? Is it possible to combine the two? Therefore, a common question is what makes Conscious Breathing different from Wim Hof breathing. One of the methods that has attracted the most interest is the Wim Hof Method. Rebirthing and Holotropic breathing are two other popular ways of using breathing to change the state of mind and improve one’s health. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Buteyko breathing method? It’s a Russian method that is spreading across the globe, founded by the late Professor Konstantin Buteyko. In yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and qigong, different breathing techniques are central. Ever since I founded Conscious Breathing in 2009, people’s interest in breathing as a health promoter, performance enhancer and a way to personal and spiritual growth has increased more and more, which brings me much joy.
