How to Release Emotion Using Breathwork

We all have emotions that we need to release. If we don’t release them, they tend to build up and cause all sorts of problems in our lives. Emotion is energy in motion, and if it’s not released, it will find a way to release itself anyway- often in destructive ways.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about how breathwork can help release emotion and why it’s such an important part of the transformation process. We’ll also discuss the difference between a top-down approach to transformation vs. a bottom-up approach like breathwork and the benefits of releasing emotion through breathwork. Finally, we’ll give you a simple Pause Breathwork practice that you can use to release emotion anytime you need to.

So let’s get started!

Why Do We Need to Release Emotion?

As we mentioned before, emotion is energy in motion. When we experience an emotion, it’s because that energy is moving through us. But, if we don’t release that emotion and suppress it instead, the energy gets stuck and can cause all sorts of drama in our lives.

Think about it like this: imagine you’re holding a beach ball underwater (which is like pushing your emotions down). The longer you hold it there, the more pressure builds up. Eventually, the pressure gets too much and the ball bursts up to the surface.

It’s the same with emotion. If we don’t release it, the pressure builds up until, eventually, it explodes in destructive ways. We might lash out at the people we love or engage in self-destructive behavior like binge eating or binge drinking. All in an attempt to numb out the pain of the unreleased emotion.

So it’s important to release emotion as soon as we can before it has a chance to build up and cause problems. But how do we do that? That’s where breathwork comes in…

How Breathwork Can Help You Release Emotion

Breathwork is a powerful tool that can help release emotion quickly and effectively. When we breathe deeply, it signals to the nervous system that everything is okay. This allows us to relax and release the tension that’s been building up. We finally feel safe – which is the key.

Because for so many of us, our emotions were shamed or suppressed growing up. We were told that we shouldn’t feel certain emotions or that our feelings didn’t matter. As a result, we learned to numb or suppress our emotions instead of feeling and expressing them.

We ended up wiring together “expressing emotions = unsafe” in our brains. This is why it can be so difficult to release emotion. We don’t feel safe to feel them. But with breathwork, we can change that.

As I mentioned before, breathwork can create a sense of safety in the body by relaxing the nervous system. When we feel safe, we can finally allow ourselves to feel the emotions that we’ve been numbing out for so long. And as we release those emotions, we begin to transform them.

Another way to understand this is by looking at the difference between a top-down approach vs. a bottom-up approach to transformation.

The Difference Between a Top-Down Approach vs. a Bottom-Up Approach Like Breathwork

There are two main approaches to transformation: a top-down approach and a bottom-up approach.

In a top-down approach, we focus on changing our thoughts and beliefs to change our behavior. This is the approach that most traditional therapies take, like mindset coaching or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We try to change our thinking to change our lives.

For example, if we’re feeling anxious, we might try to talk ourselves out of it by thinking, “Everything is going to be okay” or “I can handle this.”

The problem with a top-down approach is that it doesn’t always work. Just because we tell ourselves that everything is going to be okay doesn’t mean that our anxiety will magically disappear.

A bottom-up approach like breathwork comes at it from a different angle. Instead of trying to change our thoughts, we focus on changing our physiology – the way our bodies are feeling.

In a bottom-up approach, we focus on meeting the sensations and emotions in the body with a loving and accepting presence.

With breathwork, we’re not trying to change our thoughts or beliefs. We’re simply trying to feel what’s here now and release it. This might sound like a small difference, but it’s actually a very big one.

You see, when we try to change our thoughts, we’re coming from a place of not wanting to feel what we’re feeling. We judge our emotions as bad or wrong and want to get rid of them.

But when we release emotion with breathwork, we come from a place of acceptance. We allow ourselves to feel whatever is here without judgment. And in that accepting presence, the emotions begin to release and transform naturally.

And when we release emotion through breathwork in this way, we’re changing our relationship to the emotion and transforming it in the process. So we no longer need to use survival strategies to feel safe in the world. And as a result, our lives and behaviors change too.

So which approach is better? The truth is, both approaches have their merits. But for most people, a bottom-up approach like breathwork will be more effective at releasing emotions because it bypasses the mind and goes straight to the source of the problem: the emotions and sensations that are stuck in the body.

The Benefits of Releasing Emotion With Breathwork

There are plenty of benefits to releasing emotion through breathwork. For one, it can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can also help improve our sleep, increase our energy levels, and boost our immune system.

Releasing emotions can also lead to some profound insights about ourselves. When we release the emotions that have been suppressed for so long, we often get in touch with parts of ourselves that we’ve been ignoring. We might realize that we’ve been holding onto outdated beliefs or patterns of thinking that no longer serve us.

And as we become more loving and accepting of ALL parts of ourselves (including our emotions), we begin to feel more whole. We realize that we don’t need to numb out or push away our emotions to feel okay. Which can greatly impact our relationships and how we interact with the world.

This can be a really transformative experience, and it’s one of the reasons why breathwork is such a powerful tool. It allows us to release the emotions that are holding us back so that we can move forward and connect with ourselves and others in a healthy, integrated, and calm way.

Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of releasing emotion through breathwork let’s go over a simple breathwork practice that you can use to release emotion anytime you need to.

A Simple Pause Breathwork Practice to Release Emotion

This breathwork practice is simple, but it’s also powerful. If you’re feeling emotions like anger, sadness, or anxiety, this Pause Technique can help you release them. It’s called the Tri-Active Breath.

To start, find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. You can close your eyes if you’d like, but it’s not necessary.

Step 1: Set a timer for 2 minutes.

Step 2: Start the Tri-Active breath pattern, which goes like this:

• Inhale into the belly
• Inhale again up into the chest
• And exhale deeply through the mouth.

Step 3: Repeat until your timer goes off. Allow yourself to feel whatever comes up with presence, love, and acceptance.

Step 4: And once your alarm goes off, take a deep breath in through the nose. Holding it at the top. And releasing it when you’re ready…

You can do this practice for as long as you need to. If you’re feeling a lot of emotion, you might want to do it for longer periods of time. Or if you only have a few minutes, you can do it for shorter periods of time.

The important thing is that you’re consistent with it. The more you do it, the more benefit you’ll see. And eventually, you’ll start to notice that your emotions begin to shift on their own. They might not release all at once, but over time, you’ll find that they become more manageable and less intense.

You’ll start to feel like you have more control over your emotions. And as a result, you’ll feel more confident, empowered, and in charge of your life.

So give it a try and see how it works for you. Remember to be patient with yourself and go at your own pace. You might not see results overnight, but if you stick with it, you will begin to see and feel the benefits.

In conclusion…

Breathwork is a simple yet powerful tool that can help you release the emotions that are holding you back. If you’re looking for a way to release emotion, give breathwork a try with a FREE 14-Day Trial of the Pause Breathwork App. It just might be the key to transforming your life!