Hi,
Not sure if there is actually one dedicated thread for this. I know it is mentioned here, there and everywhere. Let’s consolidate some knowledge, wisdom and insight here.
Personally I have been doing the Wim Hof breathing since about 2019, so for about 5-6 years, more or less daily. I remember beginning the practice right before covid started. There are so many incredible benefits (as mentioned in the article above), a surge in energy, mental clarity, immune system, etc.
Breath is literally life. Our lungs have a symbiosis with nature: Trees are like the other side of the coin (lung).
What you breathe out, they breathe in and transform it into something you can breathe in again.
Breath is also literally energy (life force):
I remember reading these books:
Really teaches you the importance of breathwork, breathing correctly, how it affects you, etc. It really cannot be overstated how foundational breathwork truly is.
Breath is the only function that is both autonomic and voluntary, like a bridge between the unconscious and the conscious. That means through breath, we can directly influence processes that usually run on autopilot: heart rate, digestion, hormonal balance, and more.
- If you’re anxious, your breath is short and shallow.
- If you’re calm, it’s deep and slow.
By choosing to slow and deepen your breath, you send a direct signal to your nervous system: You are safe. You are calm. You are collected. And full of energy.
The vagus nerve, which plays a huge role in the parasympathetic system, responds instantly to breath. This is why just a few minutes of conscious breathing can shift you from a state of stress to one of calm presence.
And beyond the science - breath is a gateway:
Many ancient traditions consider breath to be a carrier of spirit or life force (prana, chi, mana). Through conscious breath, we don’t just feel better - we become more attuned. More alive. More centered in our being.
There is no spiritual practice, no high-performance state, no deep healing that doesn’t begin and end with breath.
If there’s one tool you can always carry with you, it’s your breath. Always accessible, always free, and profoundly effective.
And thats just really beautiful.
And thats why there are also many fields related to the breath or breathing practice in general.
Synchronized breathing meditation
And there are more variations, for example you could listen to a portal to a forest to deepen your practice, or to a riverside - both beautiful places in nature that will make breathwork more enjoyable.
So yeah,
To anyone who does not yet have a daily breathing practice implemented, to you I say: do it now. No matter morning, during lunch break or evening, and even if its just 5 minutes - you will benefit. Thats the cool thing.
And to the ones who do regular breathwork: What is it? How does it look like? When do you practice, and how often?
Please do share with everyone, so that we all can benefit from this power.
Peace out
