breath work

noun

variants or breathwork

ˈbreth-ˌwərk 

: conscious, controlled breathing done especially for relaxation, meditation, or therapeutic purposes

Yoga is a 5,000-year-old physical and philosophical discipline from India that joins the mind and body together through breath work, or pranayama, and postures, or asanas.

—Hilary E. MacGregor

Some general principles of breathwork are: make your breathing slower, deeper, quieter, and more regular whenever you think about it; deepen the exhalation phase of breathing by squeezing more air out of the lungs at the end of each breath … and keep your attention on the breath more of the time.

—Andrew Weil

Examples of breath work in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Choose exercises that are simple to do, such as gentle stretching, mindful walking, breath work, or even yoga. —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 9 Dec. 2024

Over the years, Khoury, who lives in Los Angeles, has tried magnesium and B6 supplements, acupuncture, breath work, therapy and more. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024

The discovery opens up the potential for the creation of new drugs that would mimic the relaxed state common during breath work, meditation or yoga, according to Sung Han, senior author of the study. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024

Types of Pranayama Many different types of pranayama, breath work, can be practiced. —Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

breath work

noun

variants or breathwork

: conscious, controlled breathing done especially for relaxation, meditation, or therapeutic purposes

Western practitioners believe yoga's deeply relaxing breath work allows the body's healing abilities to take over.

—Norine Dworkin, Psychology Today