Breath
Improve your health and wellbeing by discovering the lost art of breathing
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4.9 • 9 Ratings
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
AN UPDATED EDITION OF THE PHENOMENAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER - 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE
AS HEARD ON STEVEN BARTLETT'S 'DIARY OF A CEO'
'Who would have thought something as simple as changing the way we breathe could be so revolutionary for our health, from snoring to allergies to immunity? A fascinating book, full of dazzling revelations' Dr Rangan Chatterjee
There is nothing more essential to our health and wellbeing than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat 25,000 times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences.
In Breath, a book that has changed countless lives, James Nestor travels the world to discover the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices, discovering that if we make even slight adjustments to the way we inhale and exhale, we can:
Jump-start athletic performanceReduce anxiety and stress, and boost productivityHalt snoring, allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseaseEase headaches and sinus problems
None of this should be possible, and yet it is. Drawing on thousands of years of ancient wisdom and cutting-edge studies in pulmonology, psychology, biochemistry and human physiology, Breath turns the conventional wisdom of what we thought we knew about our most basic biological function on its head.
You will never breathe the same again.
*Cover and copy may vary*
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this fascinating "scientific adventure," journalist Nestor (Deep) follows the clues that connect breath to health. After several bouts with pneumonia and resultant breathing problems, Nestor enters a Stanford University experiment that involves spending 10 days breathing with his nostrils plugged, and another 10 with his mouth taped shut. The results are eye-opening: mouth breathing increases his snoring and sleep apnea, and causes raised blood pressure and other issues. His investigation also leads him to a breathing class in Haight-Ashbury, a yoga studio in S o Paulo, and to a conversation with a dental researcher, who points out that the skulls of ancient humans have wider airways and perfect teeth. (Subsequently, Nestor learns that the industrialization of the food supply led to softer foods, less vigorous chewing, and thus crooked teeth and narrow airways.) Frequency of breath is crucial; while science reveals that the ideal rate is 5.5 breaths per minute, many people breathe too fast. Nestor argues that proper breathing, though not a panacea, is an important component of preventative health maintenance. While the process of breathing may seem like a no-brainer, Nestor's fascinating treatise convincingly asserts that it's easy to get wrong, and vital to get right.
