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Overwhelmed? Burned out? Anxious? 😮💨
Here’s how to feel better in 5 minutes or less ✨
Larissa Tamblyn
July 22, 2025
Just a breath away 🌀
Hey you,
Let’s be real—
Life feels a lot lately.
I’m moving my family to Calgary in three weeks.
A loved one is sick.
And a close friend is fighting cancer.
It’s heavy.
It’s nonstop.
And some days, it feels like too much.
But here’s something that actually helps me and I’ve been consistently practicing it for over 6 months:
Breathwork.
No fancy equipment.
No big time commitment.
Just 2-5 minutes.
Just your breath.
How stress is actually changing you ⚠️
Chronic stress doesn’t just feel bad—it is bad. It floods your body with cortisol and adrenaline, gear-shifting your whole system into fight-or-flight mode. Over time, this:
Shrinks key brain regions like the hippocampus (memory) and prefrontal cortex (focus, decision-making)
Increases the amygdala’s reactivity—so fear, anxiety, and stress feel sharper
Raises blood pressure, adds to inflammation, and disrupts digestion and immunity
This isn’t hypothetical—it’s backed by peer-reviewed neuroscience and physiology.
Check out these two articles to dive into deeper understanding 👇
Why breathwork works 🎯
Breathwork helps reverse the effects of chronic stress—fast.
🧠 Calms your nervous system
Activates the parasympathetic “rest + digest” mode so your body can relax and reset.
💓 Lowers heart rate + blood pressure
Even a few deep breaths send signals of safety to your body. You literally feel more at ease.
😮💨 Boosts oxygen for clearer thinking
More oxygen = better focus, sharper memory, and a sense of grounded awareness.
😌 Shifts you from reactive to responsive
You pause. You breathe. You make decisions with more calm and clarity—even in chaos.
🌙 Helps improve sleep + digestion
When your stress response slows down, your gut and sleep cycles thank you. Big time.
3 Breathwork Techniques to Try Today 🌬️
1. Belly Breathing (Diaphragmatic)
How:
Place one hand on your belly, the other on your chest.
Inhale through your nose, feel your belly rise.
Exhale through your mouth, belly falls.
Why:
It slows your heart rate + calms your nervous system fast by engaging the diaphragm, a crucial muscle for deep, relaxed breathing.
2. Box Breathing (4-7-8)
How:
Inhale for 4.
Hold for 7.
Exhale for 8.
Repeat x4.
Why:
That long exhale chills your body, stimulates the vagus nerve and clears your mind.
3. Pursed-Lip Breathing
How:
Inhale through your nose (2 sec).
Exhale slowly through pursed lips (4 sec).
Why:
Great for anxious moments. Slows breathing + helps you feel in control.
This article explains these types a bit more in depth, check it out!
Breathwork apps to try 📱
Insight Timer – free, huge library - this is my FAVE!!
Othership – guided + science-backed
Breathwrk – quick, goal-specific
Calm – breath tools + meditation combo
State – nervous system training
Quick Poll ✨
How often do you use breathwork? |
Remember—you don’t need to fix everything.
You just need to breathe.
Your next moment starts here 🌬️
So... after reading this—
do you need to start now?
Take five. You’ve got time.
Larissa 😘 - Founder of RoamWell