Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is one of the ways you can monitor your health and empower yourself. What is it? ~ Simply put, it’s a measurement of how quickly our body can shift between parasympathetic (a relaxed, calm, sleepy, slower digestive state) and sympathetic (an excited, adrenaline based, fearful, faster state) nervous states. If you’re training, stressed, starting to feel a little off, or want a spur to begin better breathing practices, checking out HRV is a great place to start! Most people understand the concept of heart rate and can make a stab at taking their own pulse (the

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation and tissue destruction. It’s most commonly caused by smoking and is seen in people over the age of 40. The disease is linked with ongoing airway limitation and inflammation. It causes problems with breathing, especially breathing air out of the lungs, and problems with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the lungs. Other problems that may be caused by the disease are changes to the breathing mechanics (pattern), breathlessness, reduced heart function, problems with skeletal muscles and lower overall fitness. Usually, the most common

Do you hold tension or stress in your body and want to know how to release this? Do you know how your breathing affects your emotional state and energy levels? Practice Principal Suzanne and Senior Physiotherapist Campbell have been working on developing 2 online courses based on their areas of expertise: Fascia, and the Respiratory System, respectively. These courses have been designed to give you the tools and know-how to develop a deeper connection with your body. Suzanne and Campbell know that developing a better understanding of these systems helps to promote body awareness, self-regulation, energy management and stress reduction.

What if developing better breathing habits was just as important as developing better eating habits for your fitness and performance? Maybe it is!  It may seem simple, but developing better breathing practices during exercise can have a significant impact on your fitness. All of our muscles require oxygen to function. Getting oxygen into the blood is easy, simply take a breath, however getting oxygen from the blood to where it needs to go (the working muscles) is a little more complex. It requires some help from Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and this is where developing better breathing habits becomes important. We

A new specialised respiratory assessment at physio clinic Wellness Embodied aims to help high performing professionals, chronic pain sufferers and those at risk of burnout change their lives after a single hour- long session. Physiotherapist Campbell Will, who is a Certified Wim Hof Method instructor, is leading the individualised sessions, which clients already report have led to ‘the best night’s sleep ever’, ‘ simple tools to manage my stress’ and ‘better mood’. The Wim Hof Method technique was founded by the Dutch ‘Ice Man’ Wim Hof, who has been studied extensively for his ability to control his response to extreme

The diaphragm not only plays a role in breathing but also has many roles affecting the health of the body. It is important for posture, stability and for proper organ function. It is also of crucial importance in circulation and clearance. The diaphragm should not be seen as an individual muscle, but as part of a body system. It is important to note that the way we breath corresponds to the way we feel. If you have experimented with your breath at all, you may have noticed that if you breathe quickly your heart rate will go up. Conversely if

The Wim Hof Method – Who is Wim Hof? Wim “The Iceman” Hof is a Dutch daredevil who has become widely known  for his extraordinary feats, usually involving physical resilience in the face of extreme temperatures and environments. He holds upwards of 20 world records, including staying in an ice bath for nearly 2 hours, summiting Mt Kilimanjaro in his shorts, and climbing to the death zone in Mt Everest (7,500m) in nothing but shorts and shoes (no oxygen tank either!). But these feats were simply to gain recognition in the hope that the scientific community would take note and