The Breathwork Technique That Changed How I Manage Autoimmune Fatigue
You know that feeling when you’re exhausted but somehow still wired?
When you’re “resting” but your body feels like it’s running a marathon internally?
I spent years in that exact state. Lupus had me drained but my nervous system was stuck in overdrive. I’d lay down to rest and my mind would race. I’d try to sleep and feel like I couldn’t shut off.
Doctors told me to rest more. Meditation teachers told me to meditate. But when your nervous system is dysregulated, traditional rest doesn’t work the way it should.
What I Needed Instead
I needed to teach my body that it was actually safe to rest.
That’s where this breathwork technique comes in. It’s not about forcing yourself to relax or clearing your mind. It’s about giving your nervous system a clear signal: we’re safe, it’s okay to relax and we can come down from high alert.
This is Day 1 of what I teach my clients - because before we can build energy, we have to address why the body is burning through it so fast.
Why This Works for Autoimmune Conditions
When you’re living with an autoimmune condition, your body is already working overtime. Add chronic stress (which keeps you in fight-or-flight mode) and you’re running on fumes.
This specific breathwork pattern activates your parasympathetic nervous system - the part responsible for rest, digest and repair. The part that needs to be online for your body to actually heal.
It takes 5 minutes. You can do it laying in your bed in the morning, sitting comfortably on the floor, at your desk, in your car or before bed.
What the full technique here
What You’ll Notice
The first time you do this, you might feel:
A sense of calm you haven’t felt in a while
Like you can actually take a full breath
Your shoulders dropping away from your ears
That “wired” feeling starting to ease
You start to yawn
You feel a wave of relief wash over you
Your belly starts to rumble
You may even start to cry
This is your nervous system downshifting. This is what regulation feels like.
This Is Just Day 1
In my 90-day RLW Method program, nervous system regulation is where we start - because it’s the foundation everything else builds on.
You can eat all the anti-inflammatory foods and take all the supplements, but if your nervous system is stuck in survival mode, your body can’t use those resources effectively.
This is the piece most autoimmune protocols miss. And it’s the piece that changed everything for me.
Want personalized guidance on regulating your nervous system and reclaiming your energy?
I work one-on-one with women who are tired of feeling tired - who are ready to do the things they never thought they’d do again.
Book a free consultation call here - let’s talk about what’s possible for you.
Roxanne is a certified yoga teacher and integrative nutrition health coach with 15+ years of lived experience managing lupus. She’s been in remission for 6 years and helps women with autoimmune conditions reclaim their energy through The RLW Method.