Take control of your breath, take control of your life.
Breathing Exercises For Dummies teaches you more than 50 ways to reduce stress, practice mindfulness, improve your sleep and beyond. Breathing exercises help you feel and perform at your best. These strategies have been in use since ancient times, and modern research shows how effective they can be. This book teaches you meditative breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and improve focus in the moment, as well as tips for retraining your normal breath to be more supportive of your everyday well-being. Need to relax? Need to reenergize? Need a boost to your creativity and decision making? There's a breathing exercise for that.
- Learn about the benefits of breathing exercises and the scientific evidence behind them
- Discover 50+ exercises, including pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, 4-7-8 breathing, and beyond
- Manage pain, address insomnia, get relief from anxiety, and improve your creativity, all with the power of your breath
- Use breathing exercises at home, at school, at work, on the field, or on the stage
Anyone who breathes can benefit from breathing exercises! Whether you're managing physical or mental health challenges or just want to be more successful, Breathing Exercises For Dummies gives you the tools to make easy breathwork a part of your everyday routine.
Table of Contents:
Foreword xiv
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Started with Breathing Exercises 5
Chapter 1: Breathing: The Key to Health, Happiness, and Focus 7
Chapter 2: The Science of Breathing 27
Chapter 3: Breath and the Mind-Body Connection 43
Chapter 4: Assessing Your Own Breathing. 53
Part 2: Foundations of Healthy Breathing 65
Chapter 5: Getting Started with Mindful Breathing 67
Chapter 6: The Amazing Power of Nose Breathing 85
Chapter 7: Diaphragmatic Breathing: The Key to Healthy Breathing 101
Chapter 8: Slow Breathing for Stress Relief 119
Chapter 9: Light Breathing for Better Health 135
Part 3: Breathing for Physical and Mental Health 161
Chapter 10: Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health 163
Chapter 11: Breathing for Better Physical Health 187
Chapter 12: Energizing Your Day 209
Chapter 13: Sleeping Soundly with Breathwork 231
Chapter 14: Breathing Exercises for Kids 257
Part 4: Advanced Breathing Practices 285
Chapter 15: Strengthening Your Lungs 287
Chapter 16: Enhancing Performance 303
Chapter 17: Breathwork Styles for Deeper Exploration 317
Chapter 18: Letting Breath Breathe You: Exploring the Deeper Side of Breathing 333
Part 5: The Part of Tens 349
Chapter 19: Ten Quick Breathing Exercises for Every Day (and Night) 351
Chapter 20: Ten Resources to Keep Learning about Breath 359
Index 365
About the Author :
Shamash Alidina, bestselling author of Mindfulness For Dummies and The Mindful Way Through Stress, is a London-based breathwork expert and mindfulness teacher. He leads global courses and shares practical tools for calm, clarity, and joy—one breath at a time.
