Stressed, restless, constantly tense? This is how you use your breathing as a superpower! (Breathwork & Myths)
- Simon Julius Edgar Pruetz
- Feb 16
- 4 min read
What is Breathwork really? Myths & Science behind conscious breathing
Breath is life. Yet, although we breathe about 20,000 times every day, very few people use their breathing system consciously. In recent years, breathwork has established itself as a powerful tool for mental clarity, physical health, and emotional balance. However, there are many myths surrounding the topic. Time to shed some light on the subject!
Myths about Breathwork – what is really true?
🚫 “The deeper you breathe, the more oxygen you get.”
✅ False. Our blood is almost always sufficiently saturated with oxygen. The actual goal of Breathwork is to regulate the balance between oxygen and CO₂.
🚫 “You have to practice Breathwork daily to feel an effect.”
✅ Wrong. Even a few targeted sessions can have noticeable effects – whether it's for focus, relaxation or emotional processing.
🚫 “Breathwork is only relevant for meditation and spirituality.”
✅ Wrong. Scientific studies show that breathing techniques have a direct effect on the nervous system and are also used in competitive sports, stress management and even in trauma therapy.
Breathing: the link between body and mind
Breathing is the only autonomic bodily system that we can consciously control. It connects our physical processes with our psyche. Stress, fear or anger are immediately reflected in a change in breathing frequency. Likewise, conscious, deep breathing can calm the mind, increase concentration and release physical tension. Thus, the breath acts as a direct interface between body and mind and enables conscious control of emotional and physiological states.
How does Breathwork work? The scientific perspective
Regulation of the nervous system: Slow, deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, reduces stress hormones and promotes relaxation.
Influence on the cardiovascular system: Certain breathing techniques can harmonize the heartbeat and lower blood pressure.
Change in brain activity: Breathwork can put the brain in states of deep relaxation or increased concentration, similar to meditation.
Emotional processing: Through targeted breathing patterns, unconscious tensions or emotions can come to the surface and be processed.
Human breathing vs. the “breathing” of a combustion engine
Human breathing can be compared to the way a combustion engine works. Similar to an engine, our body needs an optimal oxygen supply for efficiency, performance and longevity. Poor or inefficient breathing leads to reduced performance, comparable to an engine that loses power due to poor air supply.
Regular maintenance – in our case conscious breathing training – ensures optimized energy utilization, reduces wear and tear and increases the performance of the entire system. Improving your breathing not only increases physical and mental efficiency, but also promotes long-term health and well-being.
Imagine that your breath is like the cooling of a high-performance processor. Optimal temperature control ensures stability, while overheating (stress & shallow breathing) or cold (lack of activation) can impair performance.
Conclusion: Use the power of conscious breathing
Breathwork is not a short-lived trend, but a powerful method for harmonizing body and mind. Whether you want to reduce stress, increase your concentration or work through emotional issues, your breath is a key that you can use anytime. It is no coincidence that breathing techniques and wisdom from yoga, qi gong and other traditional disciplines have existed for thousands of years. Modern science is now confirming what many cultures have known for a long time: consciously controlling your breath can support healing, clarity and performance in a profound way.
Practical ways to integrate breathwork into your daily routine 💨
Box breathing (4-4-4-4): Ideal for focus and stress relief.
Longer Exhalations (4-8): Activates the parasympathetic nervous system and calms you down.
Nasal Breathing: Supports natural breathing regulation, improves sleep quality and much more.
Reflection questions for conscious breathing
In which moments do you tend to breathe shallowly or restlessly?
Which breathing technique could help you in stressful situations?
How does your body feel after a conscious breathing exercise?
Conclusion: Your breath as the key to more energy & balance 🚀
Breathing is an underrated superpower that you can consciously use at any time. Whether it's for more focus, stress reduction, or better physical performance, breathwork is a scientifically based tool with enormous potential.
Are you ready to discover your breath as a source of energy?
Then start now with targeted breathing techniques and experience the difference!
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