Connected breathing, what is it and what does it do?

My dearest trainer R. (name and age known to the editor) always has a fresh story in his pocket. This weekend he went to a session for Connected Breathing with his girlfriend. My R. is always up for sessions aimed at strengthening body and mind, so when his girlfriend – a dancer – said: “shall we?”, he was immediately on board.

It cost a hundred euros per person, and he counted twenty women. “So they earn two grand, huh May, with such a session.” My dear R. saw a lot of moaning and writhing, and women moving like snakes on the ground. It was a bit too much for his Amsterdam brain, so he flew to the bathroom and decided to make a huge Houdini from there.

Still, I was curious about this Connected Breathing. What is it and how does it work?

With Connected Breathing, the name says it all, you connect the inhalation and exhalation to each other. It is a technique for an exercise; this is not a normal way of breathing that you want and can do throughout the day. Connected Breathing is process work. During a session, you continuously breathe actively in and out, without pauses.

Is Connected Breathing something like hyperventilation?

Actually, yes. There too, the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide changes. Only with the difference that you do it under supervision during a Connected Breathing session, so it goes very controlled, and a professional will help you to come back out of it.

What is the goal of Connected Breathing?

The effects of Connected Breathing are felt physically and emotionally, and it can help you reduce various complaints and improve your overall well-being.

What happens is that after a while, say five minutes, the thinking part of our brain gets less attention, and you lose a bit of the sense of time and space. You can then start to feel the first tingles and cramps, and you become a bit lightheaded. The balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide changes, and your vessels start to constrict a bit. A lot is happening in your body.

A coach will help you open your body and mind for this session. For example, by massaging your belly or asking you to support your breathing with a long sound. Of course, many people find it, just like my lovely R., a bit overwhelming, but it seems (I have never done it) to also be very liberating.

Can't I just breathe deeply?

You can, and that is nice too. But with that, you can breathe ‘over your emotions’. You don't dive deep into it. With Connected Breathing, you breathe in long and out short. If you have released a lot of physical tension during a breathing session, you can then start to breathe softer and explore your body to see where that tension has accumulated.

Sometimes there are tears of pain, but also of ecstasy.

With the coach, you gently return to your natural breathing at the end of the breathing journey (I just made that up but admit: it sounds nice).

What does it do?

It can have many positive effects, such as relieving neck pain, improving your endurance and sports performance, sleeping better, finding peace, and relieving stress.

If you have somewhat fragile health, I would first discuss it with your doctor whether this is a good idea, but to my lovely, strong R., I would say: give it a try at least once. Even if it's just to tell me how it was.