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Breathing is our superpower
RACHEL LEY HAS SOME CALMING ADVICE FOR THOSE ANXIETY FILLED MEETINGS MOMENTS
magine the moment just before you open your mouth to speak in a pitch …
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Imagine the moment just as you step into a new networking event for the first time , or …
Imagine the moment just before the first wave of delegates arrive onsite …
Whether these thoughts invite excitement or anxiety , it could be argued that dealing with a range of emotions is simply a feature of everyday business life , and most of us will have some form of remedy to help battle nerves or stressful situations . Yet , as we reach for the nearest app or pill bottle , we forget that our bodies are actually equipped to help us when we need it most .
The way we breathe affects how our nervous system operates .
I truly believe that the simple act of breathing is our superpower . Most people will have heard of the ‘ fight or flight response ’; this is the sympathetic
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nervous system at play – triggered by the amygdala when danger or something to ‘ fear ’ is about to strike , it is responsible for hyper-alertness , sweaty palms , racing pulse and so on – many of the feelings we identify in moments of anxiety .
Our bodies have a natural way to balance the extremities of the sympathetic nervous system by using the little talked about parasympathetic nervous system . Responsible for rest and digest , and accessed mainly by breathing , it will come as no surprise that the nerve endings for the
Above : Rachel Ley
n Rachel Ley is a Speaker Coach who helps teams and individuals communicate out loud effectively , perform under pressure and present with impact . n rachel-ley . co . uk parasympathetic system live in the lower lobes of the lungs , thus the deeper you breathe , the calmer you will feel .
There are many breathing exercises you can deploy – box breathing , 4-7-8 breathing exercise , bee-breathing and many more . All of these actions will help to bring your heart rate down and make you feel better inside .
The way we feel inside affects the way we sound .
If your voice has ever shaken when you presented or faced confrontation , then you will know how disruptive and devastating it can feel . The vagus nerve , which sits in the throat is part of the autonomic nervous system and it connects muscles of the larynx , some of the pharynx , the velum and the diaphragm to nearly every internal organ . Thus , it is responsible for communicating our internal emotional state via the structures concerned with making sound , our voice . The only control we have over it is to send messages through our breathing to the diaphragm – another powerful argument for us to understand and connect with our breathing . But how does our breathing affect others ?
The way we sound affects the way we listen and respond to others .
Connection to others via the breath is palpable . Getting to grips with a solid technique and opening awareness to others via facial gestures and body language ignites neurons in the brain which react to the impulses and actions of others , whether mirror neurons ( physical ) or echo neurons ( sound ). In short , the more centred or present we are with our breath , the more likely it is that the mirror and echo neurons of others pick up our intentions and responses .
Possibly more than ever , developing coping strategies both for anxiety and for better communication has to be a priority . In whatever way works for you , just remember that breathing is your superpower – it can make your ordinary , extraordinary . n
ISSUE 129 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 31