BREATH by James Nestor

James Nestor found a personal and scientific way of showing that breathing in different patters can allow us to control our immune response and nervous system.

According to him, the “missing pillar in health is breath" and he’s come to discover this after trying to recover from pneumonia and getting out of a generally bad and stressful lifestyle.

After attending a course of Sudarshan Kriya breathing which brought surprisingly good results for him, he’s put himself through a series of scientific tests and experiments to prove just how important proper breathing is in relation to general health mentainance.

It’s a fascinating journey with many insights on how breathing techniques can transform your physical and mental heath as well as how easy it is to get wrong the one vital thing we need to get right.

Here are couple of key takeaways: 

• Mouth breathing increases snoring and sleep apnea, and causes raised blood pressure and increased pulse. Nose breathing is recommended instead.

• Taking fewer but deeper breaths will lower blood pressure and provide more energy.

• Holding your breath can train chemoreceptors to cope with extreme fluctuations in carbon dioxide without panic.

• Ideal breath frequency - inhale for 6 seconds then exhale for just as long.

• Conscious breathing can transform the capabilities of our lungs and the quality of our lives.

It brings me joy to see first hand that improving diet, regular exercise, mediation and removing major stressors from the outside world have a profound effect on the overall health condition and day-to-day mood.

“Breathing gives us the means to stretch our lungs and straighten our bodies, boost blood flow, balance our minds and moods, and excite the electrons in our molecules: to sleep better, run faster, swim deeper, live longer and evolve further.“

“It is a way to retain balance in the body.”