There is an essential bodily function that we all carry out every second of every day, but that we hardly give a thought to.

You may think you know how to breathe, but we all have something to learn from both ancient and modern research.

The Science behind Breathing

In his book Breath, journalist James Nestor lays forth the science of breathing and the main takeaway is this: we absolutely must breathe through the nose!

This is because the nose acts like a natural filter: it heats up, pressurises and conditions the air that we inhale, and ultimately means that our lungs will be able to extract 20% more oxygen than from air inhaled through the mouth.

Not only that, but mouth breathing and over breathing (i.e. hyperventilation or panting) increases anxiety levels, as well as being much less efficient than slower breaths. Conversely, as James Nestor explains in this introductory video, inhaling and exhaling slowly through the nose sends signals to the brain that we are in a calm state.

But what does breathing have to do with Chiropractic treatment?

How to breathe properly

Earlier this week, I had chiropractic treatment with Jeremy to address recurring episodes of acute lower back pain. It was the first time I’d been to a chiropractor, although having worked abroad for Jeremy for over a year now, I had no doubt that I was in good hands!

It turned out that the muscles surrounding the problematic joint in my lower back were very tense and the session started out with some deep massage to my lower back and glutes, which at first was painful because of how tight the muscles were. Jeremy noticed this and asked me to breathe slowly and purposefully through my nose – in for a count of 3, out for a count of 6.

The difference was immediate and impactful: I was able to tolerate the pain far, far better. I could physically feel myself calming down and allowing the massage to release some of the tension in my muscles. Jeremy went on to explain that when we experience pain, our instinct can be to take a sharp inbreath and hold it. However, this will only exacerbate the problem and increase tension in the body.

According to Jeremy, practising proper breathing technique during and after the chiropractic treatment allows the condition to settle much quicker, something he has noticed with his clients since learning of the importance of slow nose-breathing.

Now, as we learn in this interview between James Nestor and Patrick Mckeown, there isn’t just one correct way to breathe. It’s true that sometimes faster breathing or holding the breath can be beneficial. However, overall, we should all be aiming to breath through the nose into the stomach.

So next time you go in for your chiropractic treatment, make sure to ask Jeremy about the proper breathing technique to really get the most out of your session and learn how it can improve both the way the treatment settles and your general health going forward – so you can keep healthy and stay active!

– Iona