We all get stuck in our minds from time to time. Repeated patterns of thoughts and beliefs that might have served us well at one point, begin to get in the way of us forming new ideas. Once we recognize that we are stuck, it seems so easy just to tell ourselves to choose differently. As we all know though, it’s rarely as easy as deciding to change our minds to actually affect that change.

The human brain loves patterns. The mind loves to understand. The ability to predict an outcome gives our mind a sense of control and safety. However, if those predictions are based on outdated information, they might start to be out of alignment with our actual experience. Perhaps, at this point, the mind should recognize something is amiss and readjust. If you’re like me though, you probably notice that your mind starts to grip even tighter to these old ideas, despite your efforts to alter its patterns.

In my 20+ years of experience with meditation, I have discovered for myself that the mind can not be used to change the mind. We have to move out of our analytical thinking minds to first create space for something new to take form. Once in this space, we simply allow what needs to arise to take form.

It’s simple enough in theory, but somewhat more challenging in practice. Sitting in meditation is a great way to loosen our attachments, but if you’ve ever tried to sit in meditation, you know it isn’t that easy. That’s where somatic practices, like breathwork, can help.

Breathwork allows us to move out of our thinking minds and into our bodies and our subconscious minds in a more physical way. You know that feeling you get when you’re dancing or having a great workout where everything seems to make sense? Breathwork aims to bring us into a similar state through the body, though perhaps with a more mindful approach.

“When you practice mindfulness of breathing, then the breathing is mind.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

The breath is such a powerful tool. It can change the state of our nervous system. It can move us into altered states of consciousness. It can affect our biochemistry. There are numerous breathwork techniques to choose from. So if you’re the type who gets bored easily, you can mix things up to keep your practice interesting. On the other hand, if you find something works well for you, you can rest more deeply in that practice and see what might come out of exploring one technique in more detail.

It can take some time to reform thought patterns. A consistent dedicated practice is key to allowing those new patterns that arise during breathwork meditation to form more permanently. Try it for yourself and see. Set aside 10-20 minutes each day for a week, letting go of any attachment to a desired outcome, to breathe and reset. Not sure where to start? Start with breathing in for 5 seconds and out for 5 seconds through your nose. If you need something to focus on, allow your attention to rest on how your breath moves through your body. Feel the air passing through your nostrils, feel your belly rise and fall, and perhaps you start to sense a shift in your mind too.