You know, we don’t just dabble in sound here at Centerpointe.
We harness its incredible power to transform the mind and body. And our specialty? Cutting-edge neuroaudio technology (also known as psychoacoustics, therapeutic sound, and a few other fancy terms). But at its core, it’s all about using sound to accelerate the benefits of meditation, reduce stress, and optimize brain function.
I’ve been a neuro-audio geek and sound designer for nearly 30 years, and I’m still blown away by how sound can shift our mood, rewire our brains, and improve our health.
And of course, most of you already know that Holosync is the gold standard - the most powerful and widely-used neuroaudio technology on the planet!
But sound isn’t the only way to show your brain you care.There’s another method, and it’s right under our noses!
It’s our breath.
Just by using the power of your breath, you can improve your sleep, combat anxiety, and turn your brain into a learning machine.
The Science Behind Breathing and Brainwaves
Brainwaves are electrical impulses categorized by frequency (Hz = cycles per second):
Gamma (30-100 Hz): Heightened cognition, euphoria and mental clarity.
Beta (12-30 Hz): Active thinking, alertness, and problem-solving.
Alpha (8-12 Hz): For Flow States, heightened learning ability, and calm focus.
Theta (4-8 Hz): Deep relaxation, creative insights, and emotional regulation.
Delta (0.1-4 Hz): Deep sleep, trance-like states, and cellular restoration.
A 2017 study in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews found that slow breathing increases alpha and theta activity, reducing stress. Rhythmic breathing can even enhance gamma waves, improving cognitive performance.
Breathing influences the vagus nerve, which regulates and balances the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) and sympathetic (fight-or-flight) responses.
There are countless breathing exercises to explore, and I included some of my favorites below. So, give these a try!
Box Breathing (For Focus & Calm)
- Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4.
- Repeat for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Effect: Enhances alpha waves for focus.
4-7-8 Breathing (For Relaxation & Sleep)
- Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8.
- Repeat 3 to 5 times.
- Effect: Increases theta waves for deep relaxation.
Alternate Nostril Breathing (For Balancing Brain Hemispheres)
- Using your right hand, place your thumb on your right nostril and your ring finger on your left nostril.
- Close your right nostril with your thumb and inhale deeply through your left nostril.
- Close your left nostril with your ring finger, release your right nostril, and exhale fully.
- Then, inhale through your right nostril.
- Continue alternating sides for 5-10 cycles, breathing smoothly and deeply.
- Effect: Increases synchronous neuroelectrical activity between the cerebral hemispheres.
Resonant Breathing (For Stress Reduction)
- Inhale slowly and exhale quickly through your nose.
- Repeat for 2 to 5 minutes.
- Effect: Synchronizes alpha waves, reducing tension and anxiety.
Breath of Fire (For Energy & Alertness)
- Take rapid, short, rhythmic breaths through the nose.
- Perform for 15 seconds.
- Effect: Activates beta and gamma waves for clarity.
- Side note: I do this one in the morning and it’s almost as good as a hot cup of coffee! Almost! )
Breathing is so fundamental to our lives that we forget how powerful it can be when done mindfully! It's a terrific tool for optimizing your brain. And you know what? It’s kinda fun!
And hey, if you tried any of these breathing exercises, let me know! Which one is your favorite? Or do you have a different one you’d like to share?
And that’s me, just checking in!
