One Breath, Three Components, and the Most Effective Stress Remedy

1. Stored Power: A Pretty Incredible Benefit of Slow Breathing

When you regularly practice slow breathing, you store its power away as potential energy in the form of vagal tone. It’s kind of like a bank account for slow breathing.

You then unconsciously draw from it throughout the day.

It might show up as a micro-moment of joy with the gas station attendant. Or randomly laughing with your spouse. Or having more patience with road construction. And on and on.

Thus, slow breathing has not only instant benefits, but also long-term physical and mental ones stored in vagal tone. Pretty incredible.

2. The Most Effective Stress Remedy

“[V]oluntary control of respiration patterns (breath control) is perhaps the oldest stress reduction technique known. It has been used for thousands of years to reduce anxiety and to promote a generalized state of relaxation.”

- Everly and Lating (2019)

This was from a chapter in a book called A Clinical Guide to the Treatment of the Human Stress Response.

It’s always amazing to see the power of the breath acknowledged in academic settings, but it was particularly neat to see in a book on the stress response.

Make sure you take advantage of the great gift we’ve been given—breath control—this week 🙏

3. Useful Links: Resistance Breathing Device + Airheads Breathwork Masterclass

Resistance Breathing:

Last week, I shared the Airofit breathing device. A reader responded and said this one is really good, plus it’s cheaper: Breather Fit.

Airheads Masterclass

A friend informed me of this Airheads Masterclass, which looks awesome. They’ve assembled quite an impressive list of rockstars…

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P.S. Although I don’t know him IRL, I’m a huge fan of one of the hosts’ (one of the “Airheads,” Tom Granger) work with music and breathing. So, just wanna give that music a plug here.

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