What is Breathwork?
Breathwork has become increasingly present in the “wellness world” and you might be wondering: What exactly is breathwork?
The answer is as multi-layered as your breath itself.
Breathwork isn’t a modern invention. It has long been part of ancient traditions and “old sciences.” If you practice yoga, you might have come across it in the form of Pranayama. You may have heard of holotropic breathing, or followed guided meditations that included breath awareness.
How does Breathwork work?
At its core, breathwork begins with observing your breath – and can go as far as consciously influencing it. You work with the depth and rhythm of your breath, adjust the ratio between inhaling and exhaling, or direct the breath to specific areas of your body, depending on the intention of the practice.
If you’re feeling stressed and long for relaxation, slow and grounding breath techniques might be used. If you need an energy boost, lengthening the inhale can be helpful. And if you’re looking to improve focus, balanced breathing techniques can support that.
Why is it so effective?
Because your breath is directly connected to your autonomic nervous system – and that means you can gently influence your stress levels through your breath.
What is Breath Awareness?
In addition to actively working with the breath, there is breath awareness. This is the underestimated queen of breathwork. In our society, we’re used to changing something in order to achieve something. But what if we flipped that around and simply allowed ourselves to observe the breath, the mirror of our nervous system, and notice how we’re really doing?
Try it out: sit upright and observe your breath. You’ll probably notice that it’s surprisingly difficult at first to stay focused and not change your breath while watching it.
But it gets easier with practice and often, the breath begins to slow down on its own, simply because you’re giving it attention and space. That might not happen on day one, but over time, you’ll start to feel the subtle power of breath awareness.
Why has Breathwork become so popular?
The real magic of breathwork lies in the fact that your breath not only reflects how your body is doing – it also influences it in return. The breath is the only bodily function that runs automatically and can also be consciously controlled.
This makes it a unique and powerful tool to regulate how stressed, calm, connected, or disconnected we feel.
The Science of Breathwork
As mentioned above, a growing number of studies show that conscious breath techniques can directly influence your autonomic nervous system.
Through targeted breath exercises, the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for rest and recovery) can be activated – and the sympathetic nervous system (our “stress mode”) downregulated. This has been shown to reduce stress hormones like cortisol, improve heart rate variability (HRV), and support emotional regulation by expanding our “window of tolerance.” That’s why breathwork is increasingly used in psychology, pain therapy, and stress medicine.
And once you’ve experienced it for yourself, you probably won’t need the studies anymore to feel the strength of your own breath.
Breathwork for your daily life
Do you ever come home in the evening and find it hard to really switch off? Breathwork can help you unwind and fall asleep more easily.
A regular breath practice can also help build resilience. In a way, you’re training your nervous system to return to a calm state more quickly after stress. This helps you avoid constant reactivity, being overwhelmed by panic, or getting stuck in stress.
Breathwork also teaches you to build a stronger connection to your body. With breath awareness and conscious breath modulation, you become more attuned to your body’s signals.
If you’re dealing with anxiety, breathwork can be a powerful support – especially when combined with somatic practices. It can help you stay anchored in the present moment and prevent the fear from taking over.
Who is breathwork for?
Breathwork is suitable for many people who are looking for more balance, inner calm, and connection with themselves.
It’s particularly helpful for people with high-stress jobs who feel like they’re always “on,” and for those recovering from burnout or chronic exhaustion who want to support their nervous system in finding a new equilibrium.
Breathwork can be used for self-regulation, emotional processing, and inner growth.
It’s also a valuable resource for anyone looking to deepen their body awareness, build resilience, or explore mindfulness and personal transformation. On this journey, working with a trained breathwork coach is highly recommended to make the most of the practice.
That said: not every type of breathwork is suitable for everyone.
If you have conditions such as epilepsy, cardiovascular issues, serious mental health concerns, or are pregnant, please speak with a healthcare professional before starting.
Those with unprocessed trauma or emotional instability should be especially mindful when choosing breath techniques, as intense methods can be activating. In such cases, working with a qualified facilitator is key.
Breathwork can be powerful and profound – which is exactly why it’s so important to listen closely to yourself and choose the right intensity and approach for your needs.
How do I get started with Breathwork?
If you’re new to breathwork, I always recommend working with a breathwork coach. That way, you can learn how to build a functional breathing pattern as a foundation – and then explore which techniques suit you and your current needs.
If you’re curious to try breathwork or have questions about your breathing, feel free to book a free discovery call with me or take a look at my 1:1 programs.
I’d love to hear from you!
