Breathe Easy

Breathing has become a hot topic. Breath coaches peddle their wares, promising we can bio-hack our nervous systems via our breath to provide a sea of calm. New research is uncovering how crucial breathing technique is for our sleep and health. And a global pandemic has arisen that acutely affects the respiratory system.

But breathing isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Sure, people will advertise a task’s simplicity by saying “it’s like riding a bike” or “it’s as easy as breathing,” but whereas the consequences of improper technique with bike riding are fairly obvious when you careen into a tree, with breathing, it can take years to recognize the damage.

Breathing is an art, something we need to consciously work on. Controlled by the body’s autonomic nervous system, breathing happens without us thinking about it; the downside of this is that we mistakenly believe we’re breathing just fine when we often aren’t.

Think you’re an inhale-exhale expert? Well let me ask you this: Are you breathing through your mouth? You’re doing it with the wrong orifice. Breathing with your chest? You’re doing it with the wrong muscles. Do you breathe quickly or take shallow breaths? You’re breathing at the wrong pace.