82: Finding Calm Through Your Breath

82: Finding Calm Through Your Breath In this episode of Distracted, Angela Lockwood speaks with Angie Saunders, founder of Breathe Me and the O2 Collective, about the significance of breath in our daily lives. They explore how breathing affects our well-being, the importance of teaching breathing techniques to children, and practical strategies for managing stress through breath work. Angie emphasises the role of the vagus nerve and how breath can be a tool for emotional regulation and state change vital skills to help us in a fast-paced and often stressful life. The conversation highlights the need for awareness and control of our breathing patterns to improve mental clarity and overall health. This is an important episode to listen to if you feel the pressure of overwhelm in your body and want a simple way to overcome chronic stress. By listening to the episode you will learn; 👉 How stress affects our breathing patterns, leading to physical and mental health implications. 👉  How to use your breath to change your mental and physical state even in heightened moments. 👉 Ways to teach children important regulation strategies. 👉 The skill of reflexive breathing. 👉  Co-regulation strategies for better relationships. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Power of Breath 01:55 Understanding the Importance of Breathing 06:05 Breath Holding and Its Effects 09:49 Breathing Techniques for Stress Relief 14:01 Breathing with Children: Techniques and Games 18:01 The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Breathing 21:57 Breath as a Tool for State Change 26:05 Recognising Signs of Breath Imbalance 29:45 Practical Steps for Breath Control