5 Common Questions about the Breath
We’ve put together the five most common questions we get about breathing from friends, colleagues, patients, and athletes. If you have a question of your own, We’d love to hear it.
1. Do we take breathing for granted? Should we pay more attention to it?
Yes, we often do. Like the heart, breathing happens automatically. But unlike the heart, we can control it. And that control is powerful.
Think of the old “brown paper bag” trick for anxiety. Over-breathing lowers carbon dioxide, which can cause confusion, tingling, and cramps. Breathing into a bag restores balance and helps regain control.
For people with asthma, COPD, sleep apnoea, or those recovering from smoking, breathing deserves extra attention. Training the breathing system can make a huge difference.
2. How can breathing help treat or prevent health issues?
Breath training is more than relaxation. It can change health outcomes in many ways.
Asthma: Strengthening the breathing muscles improves symptoms, reduces hospital visits, and lowers medication use (Weiner, 1992).
Anxiety and stress: Slow, controlled breathing taps into the nervous system and gives you tools to manage symptoms.
Respiratory disease (COPD and lung issues): Strength training for breathing muscles reduces breathlessness and improves quality of life (Gosselink, 2012).
Snoring and sleep apnoea: High-load breath training can reduce symptoms without CPAP machines or medication (Vranish, 2016).
Post-pregnancy: Breathwork helps women restore functional breathing and reduce back pain during and after pregnancy.
3. How do we actually train the breath?
Try this simple exercise:
Place both hands on your belly.
Inhale slowly through your nose for 5 seconds, filling your hands.
Purse your lips and exhale gently for 10 seconds.
Repeat for 2 minutes daily.
This simple practice builds awareness. But just like strength training at the gym, your breathing muscles also need structured, progressive training. At All About Breathing, we guide people through supervised programs to safely build breathing strength.
4. How does breathing affect training, endurance, and recovery?
When breathing muscles fatigue, performance suffers. Training them to resist fatigue means you can work harder, for longer.
Breathing also affects the mind. Some techniques, like Wim Hof’s hyperventilation style, can shift blood chemistry, but they may not be safe for everyone. People with asthma or lung disease in particular may need other approaches. The key is to match the technique to your goals and your body.
5. How do athletes and performers use breath training?
Different sports demand different respiratory skills. Here are some examples:
Cameron McEvoy (Australian swim team): Improved inspiratory flow to take faster, larger breaths in competition.
Ryan Hipwood (big wave surfer): Increased lung volume and improved anxiety control while waiting for 40ft waves.
Stuart McKenzie (Cirque du Soleil acrobat): Used breath training for core strength and rehab after a back injury.
Improving breathing can enhance performance, recovery, and even reduce injury risk.
AAB
