Balance through breathwork

In a world where stress and anxiety are increasingly common, breathwork coach Glen Crofskey believes one of the most powerful tools for improving mental and physical wellbeing is just under the nose.

After studying breathwork in Nicaragua and experiencing its benefits firsthand, Glen is holding workshops in Mangawhai, teaching people how intentional breathing techniques can help reduce stress, improve performance and regulate the nervous system.

As a yoga teacher, Glen began learning more about pranayama, also known as yogic breath, which involves practising conscious and controlled breathing. It was through this practice and dealing with a bout of depression that he discovered the power of breathwork.

“I suffered from depression, and what really helped me was doing the Wim Hof method. I found that method really powerful,” Glen says.

Glen studied breathwork for a year under the guidance of Chuck McGee III and Stig Severinsen, the renowned four-time world freediving champion who credits breathwork with enabling him to hold his breath underwater for 22 minutes.

He started applying what he had learned to his own practice before teaching workshops in South America. He is particularly interested in demystifying the practice, the science behind it and how it can have a lasting impact on health and wellbeing.

“Once I started learning about the science and what breathwork can do to your body, and how beneficial it can be, I was amazed. There are many modalities and methods you can use in breathwork that are useful in various situations, such as meditation, athletic performance, pain management and calming stress and anxiety. There is just so much you can apply it to,” Glen says.

Glen says he has become increasingly aware of how closely breathing patterns are linked to stress and overall wellbeing. While breathing is something people do automatically every day, he says stress and anxiety can often lead to unhealthy habits that negatively affect both physical and mental health.

“Some people say, ‘oh, you’re going to teach breathing,’ but what many don’t realise is that there is almost an epidemic of over-breathing,” Glen says. “It can become a negative feedback loop where it’s hard to know whether the stress is causing the breathing issues or whether the breathing is contributing to the stress.”

He says prolonged shallow breathing can send signals to the body that it is under threat, keeping people in a heightened state of anxiety.

“If you are breathing shallow and high in the chest for long periods of time, your body thinks it’s in trouble,” he says. “Over time, chronic stress and poor breathing habits can build up, but they can be corrected. Sometimes it’s just about catching yourself, slowing down and returning to proper nasal breathing.”

In his breathwork workshop starting this week, Glen will teach participants the different modalities and methods of the practice. He also plans to offer free sessions to local first responders in the future.

“I really believe in the power of breathwork; it’s helped me so much. I still get messages from people in Nicaragua who are applying what they learned during my teachings and singing its praises, so I am really excited to bring this to the people of Mangawhai and pass on some handy life skills,” Glen says.

Glen’s six-week course begins on June 4 at the Mangawhai Movie Hall. For more information or to book a spot, contact Glen on 021 0279 7970.