The air we breathe, once considered a free gift from nature, has become a commodity to be bought and sold. Breathwork sessions, touted as a way to unlock our "fullest human potential," are proliferating online and in-person, with some charging hundreds of dollars for the privilege. But is there truly evidence to support these claims?
For Dr. Vince Polito, a senior lecturer at Macquarie University, breathwork's benefits are undeniable. "There genuinely are some physiological effects of changing your breathing," he says, describing how it can influence the autonomic nervous system and regulate our unconscious responses like heart rate and blood pressure. Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, which encourages deeper lungfuls of air, have been found to reduce stress markers like cortisol levels.
However, not all breathwork techniques are created equal. Some methods, like resistance breathing, strengthen the diaphragm to increase lung capacity, while others may lead to altered states of consciousness. Dr. Polito warns that these altered states can be both transformative and destabilizing, often without any scientific basis.
But what about the risks? Experts caution that certain techniques, such as Wim Hof's method, which combines breathing exercises with cold exposure training and meditation, should only be practiced under constant supervision. These methods have shown promise in reducing inflammation and increasing pain thresholds, but more research is needed to establish evidence-based guidelines.
As one expert notes, "breathing is free." Yet, the business of breathwork has taken off, with some practitioners making outlandish claims about its benefits. The Lorax's fictional bottled air company may have been satirical, but the reality is that some breathwork proponents are peddling unproven treatments for a hefty price.
In a world where wellness trends come and go, it's essential to separate fact from fiction. Breathwork, when done correctly and under guidance, can be a valuable tool for stress relief and mental health. However, we need to approach these practices with a critical eye, recognizing the fine line between hype and evidence-based benefits.
As Donna Lu, an assistant editor at Guardian Australia, so aptly puts it, "Please breathe responsibly." Only by doing so can we harness the potential of breathwork without succumbing to unfounded promises and overpriced promises.
For Dr. Vince Polito, a senior lecturer at Macquarie University, breathwork's benefits are undeniable. "There genuinely are some physiological effects of changing your breathing," he says, describing how it can influence the autonomic nervous system and regulate our unconscious responses like heart rate and blood pressure. Techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, which encourages deeper lungfuls of air, have been found to reduce stress markers like cortisol levels.
However, not all breathwork techniques are created equal. Some methods, like resistance breathing, strengthen the diaphragm to increase lung capacity, while others may lead to altered states of consciousness. Dr. Polito warns that these altered states can be both transformative and destabilizing, often without any scientific basis.
But what about the risks? Experts caution that certain techniques, such as Wim Hof's method, which combines breathing exercises with cold exposure training and meditation, should only be practiced under constant supervision. These methods have shown promise in reducing inflammation and increasing pain thresholds, but more research is needed to establish evidence-based guidelines.
As one expert notes, "breathing is free." Yet, the business of breathwork has taken off, with some practitioners making outlandish claims about its benefits. The Lorax's fictional bottled air company may have been satirical, but the reality is that some breathwork proponents are peddling unproven treatments for a hefty price.
In a world where wellness trends come and go, it's essential to separate fact from fiction. Breathwork, when done correctly and under guidance, can be a valuable tool for stress relief and mental health. However, we need to approach these practices with a critical eye, recognizing the fine line between hype and evidence-based benefits.
As Donna Lu, an assistant editor at Guardian Australia, so aptly puts it, "Please breathe responsibly." Only by doing so can we harness the potential of breathwork without succumbing to unfounded promises and overpriced promises.
and I'm not gonna lie, they kinda worked! 
My friend's got this yoga instructor who claims that by "reprogramming" your breath, you can basically reboot your entire being 
. And at first, it felt pretty cool – like a mini-vacation from my daily stress 
.
I mean, sure, some breathing techniques can reduce cortisol levels and stuff, but is Wim Hof's method actually backed by actual science? 
! Like, $200 an hour just to sit in a room and breathe? 
I guess if it works, it works, but can't we just figure some of this out ourselves through Google? 
. Can we just stick to proven methods and leave the fancy "transformational" stuff behind? 
. 
. Maybe it's time we take a step back and re-evaluate what's truly valuable here 
.
?
hundreds of dollars for some 'physiological effects' lol what a scam 
got my parents breathing into jars or something like that for their stress issues and now they're on inhaler meds 
meanwhile, the air we breathe is literally being sold to us like it's some kind of luxury good 
. Shouldnt we focus on real evidence-based treatments instead of these pseudoscience stuff?
i mean, have you ever felt like u r on the verge of something big after a good session? 
it's not just about feeling calm or relaxed, there's science behind it! 
when done right, though. so yeah, please breathe responsibly 
. And don't even get me started on the methods they're using - like, have you seen those videos of people "breathing" in ice? 
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. I mean, I get that some techniques like diaphragmatic breathing can be helpful in reducing stress, but come on, not all methods are created equal! Some can lead to altered states of consciousness and who knows what else 
.
But no, now it's a commodity that some people are making money off of. I just wish we could approach these practices with a critical eye and separate fact from fiction 
. As Donna Lu said, "Please breathe responsibly" – that's some good advice right there 
.
. the only way we'll know if breathwork is really worth it is when there's actual research backing up its claims 
. And what's up with all these "altered states of consciousness" that can be both transformative and destabilizing? Sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. Let's just focus on actual evidence-based practices rather than some fancy-pants breathwork technique 
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. As Donna Lu says, "Please breathe responsibly", yeah right... how about we start by being more responsible with our money and expecting actual evidence before shelling out the cash? 
I'm totally with Donna Lu on this one... like, breathing is literally free, right? 
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