On a mental level, we have something like 50,000 thoughts a day and not all of them are very useful.

The quality of our breath helps to relax the mind and enhance the ability to learn, focus, concentrate and memorise. Breathwork helps us to become conscious of our thoughts, feel more confident, increase our energy levels and be more mindful of what we are putting into our bodies. The brain requires a great deal of oxygen to function and breathwork helps us to achieve clarity and be more productive. It also relieves anxiety, depression and negative thought patterns.

More good news is it helps with the anti-aging process. By reducing stress, it improves our mood, elevating the levels of serotonin and endorphins. A 2013 study by Harvard Medical School’s psychiatry department showed that people who meditated daily for four years have longer telomeres – the protective caps found on the end of chromosomes – than those who do not. Short telomeres have been linked to premature cellular ageing.

As a Mum of one juggling life commitments and career there are plenty of times when I feel like I am winging it and I always check in with my breath to keep me focussed and make sure the mind doesn’t get overwhelmed with daily challenges.

My friends at WinginItClub asked me to contribute this month. You can read the full article here.