When was the last time you paid attention to your breathing? Amid the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, it’s probably not something you think about often.

But taking a moment to notice and control how you’re breathing isn’t just a great way to practise mindfulness – it can also offer a wide range of benefits for your wellbeing.

Why? It’s mostly to do with the way breathwork engages our parasympathetic nervous system – the side of our nervous system responsible for the ‘rest and digest’ state, as opposed to the ‘fight or flight’ response triggered by our sympathetic side.

In this way, through a combination of different techniques, breathwork can help us to slow down our body’s stress response and feel more in control. And it’s this ability to help us switch off and relax that makes it such a powerful tool for improving sleep, too.

Breathe your way to a better night’s sleep with these 4 expert-approved techniques