Breathing Less, Not More: Why Gentle Breath Practice Matters

When we think about breathwork, we often imagine taking bigger, deeper breaths.

But more breath isn't always better.

When we breathe more than our body metabolically needs, through breathing too quickly, too deeply or habitually through the mouth, we can lower carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the blood. That shift can contribute to sensations such as light-headedness, tingling, feelings of breathlessness and difficulty concentrating. For someone already feeling anxious, those sensations can very easily feed into a cycle of something feels wrong, I need more air, followed by even more breathing.

One of the things I value about gentle breath training is that we can approach this from the opposite direction.

Rather than continually trying to take a bigger breath, we can gradually become more comfortable with breathing quietly and tolerating the perfectly normal sensations associated with a small rise in CO₂ and air hunger — that feeling of wanting another breath.

And the word gradually really matters.

Air hunger isn't something to conquer. Breath holds aren't a competition and a breathing practice shouldn't leave you fighting with your body.

Our tolerance, breathing patterns, physiology and circumstances are individual. A practice that feels almost effortless to one person may be far too demanding for another.

This is something I particularly appreciated in my advanced yoga teacher training with Brooke Elliston: breath practice can be simple, progressive and responsive to the person actually doing it.

Sometimes that means a very small breath hold. Sometimes it means slowing the breath slightly. Sometimes it's simply noticing that we habitually take a much bigger breath than we need.

Five minutes practised regularly can be far more useful than an elaborate breathing practice that feels overwhelming or that we only do occasionally.

The aim isn't to become brilliant at holding your breath.

It's to gently expand the range of breathing sensations you can comfortably experience, while learning that the first little whisper of I need more air doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong.

Breath is trainable. But training doesn't have to mean pushing.

Join us in Greece for our Breathwork and Yoga Retreat

Come and breathe with us.