The breathwork trend has taken the world by storm, with courses, books, and online searches skyrocketing. The promised benefits range from stress relief to "unlocking your fullest human potential." But is there any evidence to back up these lofty claims? Or are we just getting caught in a wave of hot air?
For those who don't know what breathwork entails, it's essentially the act of intentionally changing breathing patterns to influence the autonomic nervous system. Some techniques involve slowing down breathing for relaxation, while others involve rapid breathing to alter oxygen levels in the brain and body.
Research supports some aspects of breathwork, such as diaphragmatic breathing, which can reduce cortisol levels and improve mental health. Resistance breathing is another technique that strengthens the diaphragm and increases lung capacity. A meta-analysis found that breathwork may be effective for improving stress and mental health, but warns against hype over evidence.
However, things get murky when it comes to more dubious claims. Promoters of courses often promise "states of healing most people never touch," "unlocking your fullest human potential," and "deep personal growth." These claims are more akin to marketing fluff than empirical evidence.
Dr. Vince Polito, a senior lecturer in psychological sciences, cautions that some breathwork techniques can lead to altered states, which may result in transformative experiences or destabilizing ones. He also notes that the business motive behind many of these courses is often more about selling a product than providing actual benefits.
The risks associated with certain breathwork techniques cannot be ignored. The Wim Hof method, for example, involves rapid breathing and breath holds, which can lead to hypoxia (low oxygen levels) and potentially life-threatening complications.
As Mark Hutchinson, dean of health research at Adelaide University, puts it: "When I see people charging large amounts of money for very expensive things that are not actually grounded in any evidence, my alarm bells go off." He advocates for further research to create evidence-based guidelines for breathwork techniques and emphasizes the importance of doing these practices under constant supervision and guidance from medical practitioners.
Ultimately, breathing is indeed free. But when it comes to claiming that specific techniques can unlock our "fullest human potential," we need to be cautious and look beyond the marketing hype. As the advertisement in The Lorax cautions: "Please breathe responsibly."
For those who don't know what breathwork entails, it's essentially the act of intentionally changing breathing patterns to influence the autonomic nervous system. Some techniques involve slowing down breathing for relaxation, while others involve rapid breathing to alter oxygen levels in the brain and body.
Research supports some aspects of breathwork, such as diaphragmatic breathing, which can reduce cortisol levels and improve mental health. Resistance breathing is another technique that strengthens the diaphragm and increases lung capacity. A meta-analysis found that breathwork may be effective for improving stress and mental health, but warns against hype over evidence.
However, things get murky when it comes to more dubious claims. Promoters of courses often promise "states of healing most people never touch," "unlocking your fullest human potential," and "deep personal growth." These claims are more akin to marketing fluff than empirical evidence.
Dr. Vince Polito, a senior lecturer in psychological sciences, cautions that some breathwork techniques can lead to altered states, which may result in transformative experiences or destabilizing ones. He also notes that the business motive behind many of these courses is often more about selling a product than providing actual benefits.
The risks associated with certain breathwork techniques cannot be ignored. The Wim Hof method, for example, involves rapid breathing and breath holds, which can lead to hypoxia (low oxygen levels) and potentially life-threatening complications.
As Mark Hutchinson, dean of health research at Adelaide University, puts it: "When I see people charging large amounts of money for very expensive things that are not actually grounded in any evidence, my alarm bells go off." He advocates for further research to create evidence-based guidelines for breathwork techniques and emphasizes the importance of doing these practices under constant supervision and guidance from medical practitioners.
Ultimately, breathing is indeed free. But when it comes to claiming that specific techniques can unlock our "fullest human potential," we need to be cautious and look beyond the marketing hype. As the advertisement in The Lorax cautions: "Please breathe responsibly."
and it made me think about how our brains can rewire ourselves with new habits. like, have you ever tried that app where you set tiny goals for yourself every day? 
i've been doing it and it's crazy how my mood has shifted just because i'm holding myself to these small tasks.
. and don't even get me started on the prices of those courses... ugh! maybe we should just focus on being better listeners and understanding our own breath (and bodies) instead? 
. Like, who promises "states of healing most people never touch" just to make a quick buck? 
It's hard not to be skeptical when it comes to claims that seem too good (or out of this world 
) to be true.
. I think it's great that researchers like Mark Hutchinson are sounding the alarm and advocating for more research and regulation.
.
what's the point of all these courses and stuff? can't we just, like, breathe naturally or something? 
i do know that diaphragmatic breathing is a thing tho, and that sounds kinda helpful 
but what about those other claims? are they just making it up as they go along? 
breathwork thingy seems legit for stress relief and stuff, but all this "unlocking your fullest human potential" business is just plain Interesting 
Mark Hutchinson seems like a dude who knows his stuff. Maybe we should get some more research on this breathwork thing... Interesting 
! Slowing down breathing can totally calm your nerves and stuff. And the research on diaphragmatic breathing is like, woah! 
It really does help with cortisol levels and mental health. I'm all for trying new things to feel better, but yeah let's keep an eye out for those dodgy claims 
. Thanks for the reminder to breathe responsibly! 
. I mean, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is 
. As long as we're talking about techniques like diaphragmatic breathing that have some actual scientific backing, I'm on board 
.
, but breathwork has got me a bit skeptical 
! I mean, yes, research shows that diaphragmatic breathing can be super beneficial for mental health 
, and resistance breathing is awesome for lung capacity 
. Evidence-based practices are key, people! 
. It's like, if you're gonna promise me the world, can you at least give me some actual science to back it up? 
. We need more research on this before we start shelling out thousands for some breathwork guru 
. Let's keep our expectations in check & prioritize actual evidence-based practices 
I'm not saying it can't help, but let's keep things real, folks. It's like when your aunt starts taking yoga classes and suddenly she's a expert on meditation... until you invite her over for a quiet night in and that's where the downward-facing dog fails miserably