Why They’re Not the Same (But Both Are Important)
As a master breathwork instructor who regularly practices and teaches various breathwork techniques, I’ve seen first-hand the transformative power that breathwork can have. But here’s something important: while breathwork is a powerful tool for emotional release and breakthroughs, it’s not meant to replace meditation. Both practices serve different purposes, and understanding the distinction is key to unlocking their full potential.
So, you’ve been doing breathwork and you’ve probably had some pretty big experiences, right? Maybe you’ve released some stuck emotions, pushed through something heavy, or just felt a sense of clarity you haven’t had in a while. And yes, breathwork can be profound. But here’s the thing: it’s not meditation, and it’s not meant to replace it.
Let’s break it down. Breathwork is all about activation – it’s a doing practice. You’re putting your body through stress (in a controlled way) and moving energy. It’s action-packed. You feel things shifting, emotions coming up, and maybe some big transformations happening. But when it’s over, and you go back to your regular life, how long does that feeling stick around? A few days? A week? Then the routine sets back in, and you’re kind of back to where you started. That’s because breathwork, while amazing for breakthroughs, doesn’t help you integrate those experiences into your day-to-day life.
This is Where Meditation Comes In
Meditation, on the other hand, isn’t about doing – it’s about being. When you meditate, especially with something like Vedic meditation, you’re dropping into a deeper state. You’re connecting with yourself at a core level. You’re not pushing, you’re not activating, you’re just being. And that’s the beauty of it. Meditation helps you stay connected to those big experiences and integrate them into your life.
When you meditate regularly, ideally, twice a day, you start to manage stress better, you become more present, and you find that you don’t get knocked off balance as easily. While breathwork fires up the sympathetic nervous system, meditation keeps you steady. And instead of waiting for the next big breathwork session to feel good, meditation lets you carry that calm and connection throughout your day.
The Secret Sauce: Combining Both
Here’s where it gets interesting. Meditation can actually make your breathwork experience better. When you have a solid meditation practice, your breathwork sessions get deeper. The next time you dive into breathwork, you’ll notice that you push through resistance more easily, and everything just feels more amplified. People who’ve done breathwork know exactly what I mean when I talk about that resistance – the point where you feel like you can’t keep going. With meditation in your toolkit, you can break through those moments with a lot more ease.
So, breathwork is great. But it’s not a substitute for meditation. If you’re serious about living a more present, connected life—if you really want to know who you are and why you’re here – meditation is where the real magic happens. Breathwork helps you shake things up, but meditation is what helps you live it out every single day.
I’m happy to expand on this topic
If this resonates with you or if you’ve had your own experiences with breathwork and meditation, I’d love to hear about it. Drop me a DM, let’s chat! And if you found this helpful, feel free to like and share it with others who might benefit from these insights. Also, if you’re interested in a deeper dive into the differences between breathwork and meditation, let me know – I’m happy to expand on this topic in a future post.