The Global Wellness Institute’s Breathe Initiative has identified five key trends in breathwork and breathing for 2023. These trends are found in almost every aspect of wellness, from mental health to the workplace, and they spotlight how specific aspects of the trend apply to an array of wellness environments.
TREND 1: Nasal Breathing & Mouth Tape: Bringing Relief for Asthma and Sleep Apnea
Mouth taping during sleep has been applied in Europe since the late nineties and in clinical studies, nasal breathing through various techniques has been shown to aid recovery and ease symptoms for conditions such as asthma and obstructive sleep apnea. Persistent mouth breathing can inflame asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, anxiety, COPD, rhinitis, and even stunt craniofacial development in children. Mouth taping during sleep has been found to improve snoring and the severity of sleep apnea in mouth-breathers with mild OSA. There are a number of products available for mouth taping, ranging from covering the mouth and lips to elasticated tape, which surrounds the mouth to bring the lips together.
TREND 2: Mindful Breath Does More than Just Keep You Alive–It Helps Prevent Disease
Breathing exercises incorporated throughout your day can disengage a potentially health-harming chronic stress response and help insulate you from the damage that it can inflict on your body. Breath is a powerful tool for managing daily stress and preventing stress from manifesting into something worse. If you don’t manage your stress, other wellness modalities such as food and exercise are not as effective.
TREND 3: Breath Practices Receive Warm Welcome in the Workplace
Breathwork is viewed as neuroscience and welcomed as a simple yet very effective tool for creating optimal mindset and energy at work. Breath practices are easily integrated into busy schedules and empower people to be more present, focused, creative, kind, collaborative, productive and self-aware of their emotions and communication style.
Leaders who don’t prioritize the well-being of their teams are losing top talent for companies who offer wellness content/experiences and perks that matter more for everyone’s overall health.
TREND 4: Tapping into Breath for Mental Health & Emotional Control
Breathing exercises work because they trick your brain into thinking your emotional state is different than it actually is. When you slow your breathing down in times of stress you can trick your brain into thinking you’re actually in a calm state and there is no threat or challenge at hand. The trend is that people are learning how to override their nervous system with breath to keep a healthier balance between parasympathetic and sympathetic states.
TREND 5: Breath is an Underutilised Human Superpower
Breath is seen as a powerful antidote to the common pain points that we share globally, especially the constant need to be attached to our devices. Being able to change our breath is an incredible tool that humans have. We have the power to breathe in ways that will calm, balance or boost the nervous system–depending on what you need at any given moment.
Neuroscience is offering up to the minute studies on the full spectrum of the benefits of mindful and strategic breath. When you change your breath, you can experience better sleep, elevated athletic performance, clearer cognition and better mood and energy. Tap into your superpower to optimize your respiratory system, which then helps other vital systems (detoxification, digestion, cognition) work more effectively as well.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only, and does not constitute health or medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your physical or mental health, seek immediate medical attention.
