Optimal breathing: An essential tool for your health and wellbeing

POSTED November 18, 2020

Optimal breathing habits are essential for our health and wellbeing.

Notice your breathing patterns as you go about your day; they change from moment to moment to reflect your mental and emotional states.

Stressful situations constrict our breath and make them more shallow. Conversely, when we are at ease, the breath is allowed to flow languidly into the belly.

Belly breathing stimulates the vagus nerve and promotes the parasympathetic nervous system, which is better known as the rest and digest system. This system acts as a counterbalancing force to the sympathetic ‘fight or flight’ nervous system that most of the modern world seems to be stuck in all the time, even after the workday (and workweek) ends.

The ills of being stuck in fight or flight mode are aplenty; high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, obesity, chronic inflammation, and the list goes on…

The good news is that the cure for these problems lies right beneath your nose! Breathing is the only biological activity governing our autonomic nervous system that is both voluntary and involuntary. No wonder then that the Ancients of the East developed complex breathing exercises that enabled them to manipulate their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual states.

Many breathing exercises exist, all of which serve different purposes. In this blog, I would like to share the 365 breathing technique with you.

This deceptively easy technique created by Dr David O’Hare has remarkable immediate and long-lasting effects which cannot be
understated; it reduces cortisol levels (stress hormone), increases DHEA (the only hormone that regularly reduces with age, thus giving it the nickname ‘youth hormone’), increases salivary IgA (immune system support), increases oxytocin secretion (a neurotransmitter associated with feelings of pleasure), increases alpha waves (brainwaves associated with calm, wakeful states and which aid memorization and learning), and more.

365 is a formula:
• 3 times a day
• 6 breaths per minute
• 5 minutes per session

Inhale through your nose for 5 counts, taking the breath into your belly. Exhale through gently pursed lips for 5 counts. Practice this exercise for 5 minutes, 3 times daily. This exercise is best practised first thing upon waking, before lunch, and at the end of the working day.

This exercise seems simple enough, and it is, but as with everything in life, consistency is key! I encourage you to give it a try and set your alarm three times a day, to begin with, while you establish a routine.

Go well and breathe easy!

Lina Salih Didi is a Breathwork Facilitator. She offers breathwork and energy healing sessions at Sen Wellness Clinic in London and via Zoom. To enquire about working with her, send a DM or email.

Davia

Davia is our Retreat Specialist and manages enquiries and bookings for those interested in visiting us at the Sanctuary. Her in-depth knowledge of the wellness programmes we offer means she will be able to answer any questions you may have, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Davia is also Clinic Manager at Sen Wellness London, ensuring the smooth running of our holistic hub in the medical district of Harley Street, where we offer osteopathy, acupuncture, yoga, meditation and community events as well as retreats in the UK and Europe.

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Truly amazing time at the sanctuary. I came here for a 3 day meditation retreat and wish I stayed 5. After leaving the retreat, I feel energized, refreshed and intend to apply the learnings of lifestyle management into my daily routine. I truly enjoyed my time with the monk and the yoga teacher - definitely changed my perspective on a few things and encouraged me to try new things. The doctors were also very impressively good and helpful. The massage therapists were truly incredible - some of the best I ever had. Several staff members offered to give me their contact to stay in touch and answer questions after I leave which was really Sweet. The food is quite good and the facilities are nice especially the pool. The location is purely magical and some of us even saw baby turtles going to the sea from the first time. Highly recommend - might go back!

A few little things, which are easy to fix, to make it even better:
- Food was often served cold and had to be sent back several times
- there was a lack of insect repellent during meals and outside yoga/meditation which unfortunately altered the experience quite a bit - some of us had to leave a yoga session/dinner several times
- there was a bittersweet end where I was asked to pay $20 for my last lunch after my checkout. Not so much an issue about the amount but more so about the the lack of gesture considering the overall amount spent and the fact that I got 2 lunches only as opposed to 3 as I arrived late at night on the first day. It would have been a no cost/effort gesture and a smart business/hospitality decision but instead they said no even after insisting citing “policy”. A bit sad that it was my very last memory of this retreat.

I stayed at Sen Wellness Retreat for 11 days and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment you arrive, the peaceful atmosphere and stunning natural surroundings make you feel instantly at ease. The location is absolutely magical — a perfect place to disconnect and reconnect with yourself.

The staff are incredibly kind and welcoming. While many of them don’t speak much English, their warmth and genuine care shine through in everything they do. The doctors and therapists, in particular, are remarkable — true professionals who approach their work with deep humility and kindness. You can feel that they are very special souls, and their presence really enhances the healing experience.

The food was another highlight — all vegetarian, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. Their homemade peanut butter is hands down the best in the world! The yoga sessions were gentle, grounding, and deeply relaxing, perfectly complementing the holistic approach of the retreat.

All in all, my time at Sen Wellness was absolutely amazing — for some, I can imagine even life-changing. I would recommend it wholeheartedly and would absolutely return!