Breathing exercises · Respiration · New York Times bestseller
Breath by James Nestor — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2020334 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 3.8 (18)
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What is Breath about?
There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences. In Breath, journalist James Nestor travels the world to discover the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. Modern research is showing us that making even slight adjustments to the way we inhale and exhale can: - jump-start athletic performance - rejuvenate internal organs - halt snoring, allergies, asthma and autoimmune disease, and even straighten scoliotic spines None of this should be possible, and yet it is. Drawing on thousands of years of ancient wisdom and cutting-edge studies in pulmonology, psychology, biochemistry and human physiology, Breath turns the conventional wisdom of what we thought we knew about our most basic biological function on its head.
A glimpse inside
Modern Breathing Habits Are Damaging
Nestor argues that most people in the modern world have developed poor breathing habits—primarily mouth breathing and rapid, shallow breaths. These patterns, exacerbated by processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and even orthodontics, contribute to a host of health issues, including sleep disorders, anxiety, and chronic diseases. The book explores how our facial structure has changed over generations, making optimal breathing more difficult, and why this matters for overall health.
The Power of Nasal Breathing
One of the book’s central claims is that nasal breathing is far superior to mouth breathing. Breathing through the nose filters, warms, and humidifies air, and also increases nitric oxide production, which benefits circulation and immune function. Nestor details experiments and research showing that switching to nasal breathing can improve sleep quality, reduce snoring, and enhance athletic performance.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 3.8 / 5
18 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1Modern Breathing Habits Are Damaging
- 2The Power of Nasal Breathing
- 3The Importance of Slow and Deep Breaths
- 4Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science
- 5Breathing as Preventive and Restorative Medicine
Popular quotes from Breath
“The missing pillar in health is breath.”
“You can’t always control what happens to you. But you can control how you breathe in response.”
Frequently asked
There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences. In Breath, journalist James Nestor travels the world to discover the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.
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