The Missing Pillar of Health: A Review of "Breath" by James Nestor

To wrap up our month of episodes on health, I am excited to bring you a review of the book “Breath” by James Nestor. This book explores the often overlooked, yet crucial aspect of health: proper breathing. Nestor’s approach is deeply hands-on and rooted in personal research. He studied ancient cultures to understand their breathing practices and how they contrast with modern habits.

Book Overview: 

• Modern life, with its processed foods, high stress, poor habits, overstimulation, and constant connectivity, has led to poor breathing practices, notably mouth breathing. Nestor discusses the significant impact of these practices on our health.
• The book delves into the anatomy and physiology of breathing, explaining how the respiratory system works. Nestor emphasizes the critical role of proper breathing in maintaining overall health. Proper breathing optimizes oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body, enhancing overall well-being.
• Nestor covers both the scientific and historical aspects of breathing, explaining why nose breathing is superior to mouth breathing, highlighting benefits such as air filtering, regulation of airflow, and promotion of nitrous oxide production.
• Nestor conducted a 20-day experiment, split into 10 days of mouth breathing and 10 days of nose breathing.

Practical Techniques:

• Engaging in slow, deep breaths helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, signaling the body that it's safe and not under threat.
• Techniques such as box breathing can help achieve restful sleep and manage stress.
• Regular practice of these breathing techniques ensures they are readily accessible when needed.

Implementing Breathwork in Daily Life:

• Start small by setting a timer on your phone as a reminder to check your breathing.
• Gradually build on this habit.
• Utilize apps designed for breathwork.
• Incorporate breathwork into your existing routines (habit stacking).

Link to the Book: Breath by James Nestor

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