James Nestor, science journalist and author of "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art," discusses the importance of proper breathing and its impact on our physical and psychological well-being. They explore topics like the effects of mouth breathing, the relationship between breathing and anxiety/sleep, the power of breathing techniques in relieving anxiety, the significance of exhaling properly and the role of the diaphragm, the technique of coherent breathing, the connection between breathing and sleep quality, and how breathwork enhances meditation. The guest also shares resources for free breathing techniques and interviews with experts available on his website.
Improper breathing can lead to physical and psychological ailments.
Posture plays a crucial role in breathing; sitting with shoulders back and spine straight enables efficient lung inflation.
Proper diaphragm function and slow, deep breathing can significantly improve respiratory health and overall well-being.
Deep dives
The Importance of Proper Breathing
Proper breathing can have significant impacts on our physical and psychological health. James Nestor, author of 'Breath, the New Science of a Lost Art,' explains how fixing our breathing can help with various ailments. Many of us are breathing incorrectly due to factors like posture and mouth breathing. Importance of posture in breathing is highlighted as sitting with shoulders back and spine straight allows lungs to easily inflate. Chronic respiratory disorders are common due to our modern environment, including pollution and changes in facial structure. Chewing properly can improve breathing and facial development.
Breathing Techniques and Meditation
Breathing exercises, such as Kundalini breathwork or the Wim Hof method, can complement meditation practices. Focusing on breath during meditation naturally encourages slow and rhythmic breathing. Calm and balanced breathing is essential for entering a state of deep meditation. Those who already meditate can benefit from incorporating additional breathing practices into their routine, as it further enhances overall well-being.
Breathing and Sleep
Improving breathing can positively impact sleep quality. While sleep apnea should be addressed by a medical professional, engaging in breathing exercises and establishing a calm breathing pattern before sleep has been shown to help with insomnia for many individuals. It's beneficial to avoid stressing the body during sleep and create an environment conducive to relaxation and restoration.
Improving Diaphragm Function for Better Breathing
One key insight from the podcast is the importance of proper diaphragm function for efficient breathing. Many of us only use a small percentage of our diaphragm's natural ability, limiting our breathing capacity. By learning to extend the diaphragm and allowing it to descend more when inhaling and rise back up during exhalation, we can take fewer breaths more easily and improve our overall respiratory health. Additionally, the diaphragm's descent during inhalation massages the organs below, promoting lymph fluid purging and better organ function.
The Power of Slower and Deeper Breathing
Another main idea discussed in the podcast is the significance of slower and deeper breathing. Breathing slowly and deeply allows for a proper exhale, enabling a more enriching inhale. It helps regulate stress signals in the body, reduces blood pressure, and increases heart rate variability, promoting relaxation and balance. The podcast highlights the benefits of coherent breathing, where inhaling and exhaling to a slow, rhythmic count, such as five or six, helps activate the diaphragm for better breathing. These breathing techniques, including practices like Sudarshan Kriya, have shown potential in improving mental health, anxiety, and depression.
At times, self-improvement can seem like a never-ending hallway filled with limitless shame and insufficiency. So when something as simple as the breath falls into this category, it seems only natural to meet that news with some resistance. Our guest today, James Nestor, argues that many of us, of all things, are breathing incorrectly but that by fixing our breathing, it can help with both physical and psychological ailments.
Nestor is a science journalist who wrote a book called, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, which spent 18 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was translated into more than 35 languages.
In this episode we talk about:
How Nestor got interested in breathing in the first place
Why we are the worst breathers in the animal kingdom