Breathe Into Your Highest Self with Evolve By Erika

2020 was an opportunity for many of us to begin looking inward. For many of us, we discovered how comfortable we actually are in our own company. Perhaps, after much introspection, one of your new year’s resolutions may be to focus on your health, or to find peace and calm, or maybe even just to try something new and out of your element! If this sounds like the path you’re on, breathwork will play a crucial role in how you carry yourself each and every day.

Erika Polsinelli’s breathwork practice is unique in that she combines traditional Kundalini meditations with her own techniques of manifestation. After battling with anxiety for years, Erika leaned into Kundalini yoga and breathwork to find her way back to herself. Evolve by Erika is where she is able to share her wealth of knowledge stemming from her own journey, ranging from video tutorials to short and long-term programs to one-on-one consultations.

Are you ready to get to know your highest self?

What exactly is breathwork? 

Breathwork is using the breath or prana to oxygenate the body. This has a profound response on the nervous system. Depending on the breathwork and the input of the breath to the nostrils, it can stimulate the body or calm the body.

How does breathwork differentiate from meditation?

Breathwork is a means of meditation. You can use breathwork to be present, which that in itself is a meditation. Or you can use breathwork to calm the body so that you can come to a peaceful, blissful state which can be known as meditation.

What are the different types of breathwork? 

There are many different types of breathwork. The one I recommend mastering first is long deep breathing. For long deep breathing, you are taking long deep breaths in through the nose, filling up the chest and belly, and then exhaling from the navel point, pulling the navel to the spine, and squeezing out the exhale. This technique has a number of emotional and physical benefits. It helps to calm, center, energize, oxygenate the body, fight depression or any lower vibrational feelings and helps to bring us to a calmer, peaceful state. Another type of breathwork that is more stimulating is called breath of fire. This is a quick and rapid inhale and exhale through the nose. This breathwork helps to oxygenate the body, release toxins, clear the lungs and energize the body.

What are the benefits of consciously practicing breathwork? 

You begin to experience life from a completely different perspective.

The emotional and physical benefits to practicing breathwork are endless. The immediate benefit you will feel is a sense of calm and well being. You will feel stress, tension or negative energy wash from the body. Having a consistent practice helps you to feel better overall throughout the day. You will have more energy and have more patience. Continuing to practice, you can elevate your consciousness. You begin to experience life from a completely different perspective. You are able to see things more objectively.

How can we incorporate breathwork into our daily routines?

Waking up every morning and committing to the practice is the most important. Before starting your day, taking some long deep breaths can help you get started on this journey. You can also focus on thoughts of gratitude while taking long deep breaths. This will help to raise your vibration and help you to feel happier throughout the day.

YOUR BEAUTY & WELL-BEING

What are your everyday holy grail skincare products? 

I love using essential oils. I always use jojoba oil or almond oil mixed with frankincense or any other essential oil I am guided to that day. Frankinsense helps to promote healthy skin cells and clear discoloration. It’s also anti-aging.

How do you stay in shape? 

I enjoy beach walks when the weather permits and vinyasa yoga. Many may be surprised to hear that breathwork also keeps us in shape. It supports our cardiovascular health and we actually burn calories while we are doing some of these intense breathwork meditations.

What are some of your favorite wellness essentials? 

I love starting my day with lemon water to help detoxify the body. I also love adding ginger and turmeric to my smoothies to boost our immunity. In addition, if I need to support my immune system, I love using Thieves essential oil. I will put this on the bottom of my feet or diffuse it in my house. It is antiviral and antibacterial.

These days it feels like there’s never a moment when we’re not looking at a screen. How do you detox digitally? 

I try my best to be very conscious of when I am on my devices. I want most of my time to be productive, but when I notice I am scrolling for a little too long, I try my best to step away and give my eyes a break. It is definitely hard to disconnect but trying to step away a half hour before bed and not picking up the devices for at least a half hour after we wake up is a good place to start.

YOUR JOURNEY

What motivated you to start Evolve By Erika? 

I was SO excited when I started my Kundalini meditation journey. This technology helped me with my own anxiety, as well as helped me build back my relationship with myself. I felt that it was essential that I shared it with anyone who was willing to listen and try! I wanted to create an online wellness platform where people could have access to these meditations and other resources anywhere, any time. A lot of this journey is about showing up for yourself each and every day. Evolve by Erika helps you to do exactly that. It provides you with meditations, flows, meditative movements, plant-based meals, and so much more.

How have your intentions shifted since the pandemic? 

It reaffirmed how important it is for us to have this strong foundation within ourselves. The more we develop the relationship with ourselves, the less the outside world impacts us. My practice has helped me to be able to find this sanctuary within myself and rely less on the external. I am grateful I was able to help others find this inner strength and sanctuary during the time of the pandemic. Many people have turned to the practice since the pandemic began and I think that is one positive thing that came from such difficult times.

Where can our readers keep up with you and your work? 

You can follow along with me @inkale.exkale and also explore the resources at www.evolvebyerika.com.