Breathing Exercises For Dummies

by Shamash Alidina

Overview

Take control of your breath, take control of your life.

Breathing Exercises For Dummies teaches you more than 50 ways to reduce stress, practice mindfulness, improve your sleep and beyond. Breathing exercises help you feel and perform at your best. These strategies have been in use since ancient times, and modern research shows how effective they can be. This book teaches you meditative breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and improve focus in the moment, as well as tips for retraining your normal breath to be more supportive of your everyday well-being. Need to relax? Need to reenergize? Need a boost to your creativity and decision making? There's a breathing exercise for that.

• Learn about the benefits of breathing exercises and the scientific evidence behind them
• Discover 50+ exercises, including pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, 4-7-8 breathing, and beyond
• Manage pain, address insomnia, get relief from anxiety, and improve your creativity, all with the power of your breath
• Use breathing exercises at home, at school, at work, on the field, or on the stage

Anyone who breathes can benefit from breathing exercises! Whether you're managing physical or mental health challenges or just want to be more successful, Breathing Exercises For Dummies gives you the tools to make easy breathwork a part of your everyday routine.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781394331031
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	11/04/2025
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Shamash Alidina, bestselling author of Mindfulness For Dummies and The Mindful Way Through Stress, is a London-based breathwork expert and mindfulness teacher. He leads global courses and shares practical tools for calm, clarity, and joy—one breath at a time.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiv

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Breathing Exercises 5

Chapter 1: Breathing: The Key to Health, Happiness, and Focus 7

Chapter 2: The Science of Breathing 27

Chapter 3: Breath and the Mind-Body Connection 43

Chapter 4: Assessing Your Own Breathing. 53

Part 2: Foundations of Healthy Breathing 65

Chapter 5: Getting Started with Mindful Breathing 67

Chapter 6: The Amazing Power of Nose Breathing 85

Chapter 7: Diaphragmatic Breathing: The Key to Healthy Breathing 101

Chapter 8: Slow Breathing for Stress Relief 119

Chapter 9: Light Breathing for Better Health 135

Part 3: Breathing for Physical and Mental Health 161

Chapter 10: Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health 163

Chapter 11: Breathing for Better Physical Health 187

Chapter 12: Energizing Your Day 209

Chapter 13: Sleeping Soundly with Breathwork 231

Chapter 14: Breathing Exercises for Kids 257

Part 4: Advanced Breathing Practices 285

Chapter 15: Strengthening Your Lungs 287

Chapter 16: Enhancing Performance 303

Chapter 17: Breathwork Styles for Deeper Exploration 317

Chapter 18: Letting Breath Breathe You: Exploring the Deeper Side of Breathing 333

Part 5: The Part of Tens 349

Chapter 19: Ten Quick Breathing Exercises for Every Day (and Night) 351

Chapter 20: Ten Resources to Keep Learning about Breath 359

Index 365