Breathwork has surged in popularity as a wellness trend, with courses, books, and online sessions proliferating across the UK and beyond. While some techniques offer genuine physiological benefits, experts caution that extravagant claims and high costs may outpace the evidence.
The Science Behind Breathing Techniques
Dr Vince Polito, a senior lecturer in psychological sciences at Macquarie University, acknowledges that altering breathing patterns can have real effects on the body. "There genuinely are some physiological effects of changing your breathing," he says, explaining it as a way to influence the autonomic nervous system, which regulates heart rate and blood pressure.
Research supports specific methods:
- Diaphragmatic breathing encourages deeper inhalation and has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, a marker of stress.
- Resistance breathwork strengthens the diaphragm, potentially increasing lung capacity through muscle training.
- A meta-analysis found breathwork may improve stress and mental health, but warned against overhyping unproven benefits.
Dubious Claims and Commercial Motives
Despite this, many breathwork promotions promise far more than stress relief. Advertisements for courses often include pledges to "unlock your fullest human potential" or "access states of healing most people never touch." Dr Polito notes that altered states of consciousness from rapid breathing can lead to transformative experiences for some, but also destabilising ones for others.
"There's also a business motive sometimes as well," he adds, pointing out that claims often exceed what rigorous science has demonstrated. Sessions can cost hundreds of pounds, despite breathing being a free, innate human function.
Risks and the Need for Caution
Techniques like the Wim Hof method, which involves hyperventilation and breath-holding, have shown potential in reducing inflammation and increasing pain thresholds in studies. However, Professor Mark Hutchinson, dean of health research at Adelaide University, emphasises risks.
"All of these things should be under constant supervision and guidance by medical practitioners," he says, especially for people with respiratory conditions. His ongoing clinical trial explores whether the Wim Hof method could help manage pain in endometriosis, highlighting the need for evidence-based guidelines.
Balancing Hype with Evidence
The breathwork trend echoes themes from fiction, such as the commodification of air in The Lorax, where selling "fresher" air becomes a profitable enterprise. In reality, experts stress that while breathing exercises can harness physiology for benefits like stress relief, they shouldn't require expensive courses.
Professor Hutchinson advises: "When I see people charging large amounts of money for very expensive things that are not actually grounded in any evidence, my alarm bells go off." He encourages interested individuals to explore techniques cautiously, noting that "breathing is free" and effective methods need not be costly.
Ultimately, as breathwork continues to gain traction, consumers are urged to separate science from salesmanship, ensuring their wellness pursuits are both safe and substantiated.
