THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BREATHWORK AND MEDITATION In this article, I would like to talk about the relationship between breathwork and meditation since it is a topic I often get asked about. And of late I am seeing the two lumped into the same basket implying that they are somehow one and the same. Indeed, the way I view, and how I have experienced these practices to date, there is a definite overlap - but meditation does not equal breathwork.
(For more info please do take a look at a previous blog on breathwork and its relevance today). Bear in mind, breathing exercises are not new; yogis have been practicing pranayama – the 4th limb of Patanjali’s Sutras – for a very long time! And over the last few decades in particular, science has begun to catch up. Studies are proving what the yogis have always known; that breathwork is a powerful instrument for change and healing, as of course is meditation.
Meditation
Breathwork So, let’s take a step back and consider for a moment: what is breathwork? To make it brief I will simply say that it is a very general term for breathing exercises. When we practice breathwork we are consciously choosing to alter our regular breathing pattern (which is unconscious), in order to change and/or bring about a certain state of being. For example, you could use breathing techniques to shift you out of lethargy; to balance your nervous system, to destress, or to move stuck emotions. There are endless possibilities. However, within the spectrum of breathwork, the bottom line is: you are choosing to interrupt your natural flow of breath and use it as a tool for change.
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So, what is meditation? Whilst there are many different ‘techniques’ to choose from and a wide range of benefits, meditation is ultimately an inner journey (as is breathwork). If we can train our ‘monkey’ mind to remain focused; bring it back when we drift; we can create some space between our thoughts, which are continually coming and going. When we ‘slow down’ that onslaught, we create an opportunity for clarity and personal insight. What ‘technique’ you use will be up to you.
So why the confusion I think the reason why this misunderstanding about breathwork and meditation is coming about, is because we will often use the breath as a focus point on which to hold our attention when we meditate. For example, we may simply sit and watch the breath flowing in and out of our nostrils. We could call this being ‘mindful’ of our breath (or breath awareness); we watch our breath but we are not interfering with it as such. This may in turn lead you to noticing that you have certain patterns of breathing and some of these patterns may be sub-optimal.
