From GRP Biathlete Kelsey Dickinson.

I first picked up James Nestor’s Breath, The New Science of a Lost Art a few months ago while I was going through rehab for an injury. In Breath, Nestor gives a compelling argument for how our culture should prioritize breathing as a means of preventative healthcare and general wellbeing. Nestor, who’s experience with a breathing class led to a personal transformation, takes a deep-dive into the science of breathing and discovers just how overlooked it is in our modern world. He provides easy-to-digest research and subjects himself to a series of detailed experiments and practices. The book intrigued me, not only because in elite sport the ability to breathe more air faster often equates to a higher physical fitness, but also because I have struggled with asthma and allergies since I was a kid. Nestor asserts that proper breathing practice alone can greatly reduce the effects of respiratory illnesses. The idea that improving my breathing could help my wellbeing in many areas was worth investigating. 

I couldn’t help but being initially a bit skeptical of Breath. On the surface it seemed like yet another self-help book trying to both modernize and commercialize ancient practices, much like we have seen happen with yoga, meditation, and other Eastern traditions. I didn’t want to fall into the classic thought-trap that if I could just master X, then I would also figure out my life and find the secret to happiness and prosperity. 

Reassuringly, Nestor states early in the book that he does not want the reader to interpret any of these breathing practices as some hidden secret. Rather, he takes the reader on a compelling journey through his own experiences of following both the science and spiritual art of breathing. He begins with an experiment where he voluntarily goes without nose breathing for 20 days. The impact the experiment has on his health is incredibly detrimental. A good portion of the book is dedicated to nose breathing, and how most humans are under-utilizing our nasal passages for breath, which can contribute to many adverse health effects. Nestor gives a very holistic picture of how breathing (and nasal breathing in particular) has developed in humans through evolution. He also explores how modern eating habits impact our ability to breathe, often forcing us to breath more through our mouth and more shallowly. Everything from how we chew to the foods we eat changes the shape of our faces through the palates of our mouth. It might not come as a surprise that breathing isn’t just an isolated activity done by our lungs, but as I read more I was blown away by just how much of an impact breathing can have on the rest of the body and even on how we live our daily lives. 

It was interesting to see the widespread of breathing practices Nestor uncovers during his research, which he refers to as “Breathing+”. They range from various forms of hyperventilation (over-breathing), to hypoventilation (under-breathing), including some crazy experiments where researches had patients breathe in carbon dioxide. He doesn’t necessarily recommend the reader implement these practices in their life, but he does conduct some interesting interviews with individuals who have dedicated their lives to the study, practice, and art of breathing. 

My most valuable takeaways from this book were: 1) understanding why I should try to breathe more through my nose more, and 2) trying more of the breathing techniques Nestor claims can help reduce both chronic and acute stress. I enjoyed Nestor’s thorough research and how he presented complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner. He presents breathing practices as impactful tools that are easy to implement in one’s life and makes a case for considering breathing as a fundamental means toward general wellbeing. I’m sure I will be revisiting this book in the future. 

Book: Breath, The New Science of A Lost Art by James Nestor.