Breath
by James Nestor · first published 2020
69% recommend29% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
Readable mix of personal account and research on breathing: nose versus mouth breathing, sleep, anxiety and ancient traditions like Wim Hof. Suits anyone new to breathwork wanting practical ideas.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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, journalist James Nestor travels the world to discover the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. Modern research is showing us that making even slight adjustments to the way we inhale and exhale can: - jump-start athletic performance - rejuvenate internal organs - halt snoring, allergies, asthma a
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…here [1]. I think her suggestions are reasonable. She has a product line, but you can use generic products that fit her guidelines. Just match up the ingredients. Also, a couple good points in the book Breath by James Nestor: - We have malformed mouths and teeth because we don't do enough serious chewing. Think bread/mac and cheese/peanut butter vs carrots/steak/celery. - Mouth breathing is bad. Your mouth…
on “Dentistry is less scientific and more gratuitous than people think (2019)” ↗For those interested in going deeper into the incredible world of breathing techniques I recommend "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" [0]. Part personal account, part research summary, the book covers a lot of the world's ancient breathing traditions (including Wim Hof…
on “Wim Hof’s teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges” ↗…Win Friends and Influence People" which had a profound impact on how I handled day to day conversations. A few others: The Simple Path to Wealth - JL Collins (changed my entire investment strategy) Breath - James Nestor (something so routine but there is so much to learn) A Short History of Everything - Bill Bryson (silly, but its a pretty large and encompassing look at various parts of life from the…
on “Ask HN: Are there any books that changed your life during college or school?” ↗Check out the thesis of the recent bestseller Breath by James Nestor. Native American and other traditional cultures put serious emphasis on nose breathing, strictly avoiding mouth breathing. Apparently, consistent nose-breathing can affect nasal and upper-palate…
on “Why Russians do not smile (2002)” ↗I can recommend read the book 'Breath' by James Nestor before buying an expensive device. It shows that most breathing problems are related to the fact that people have changed from nose to mouth breathing, which works against how our bodies…
on “Launch HN: Helio Sleep (YC S21) – One-stop portal for sleep apnea” ↗The best resources I have found for breath technique is two books: Breath by James Nestor and The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown. Breath is a much better book and very interesting, but is a bit less actionable in terms of real guidance it…
on “Importance of muscle mass, strength and cardiorespiratory fitness for longevity” ↗Should any of Apple's boffins be reading... I desperately want active breath monitoring. Like measuring breaths per minute. Like nudging me when I'm holding my breath. These features would greatly help me with managing chronic pain. Also, the "pulmonauts" are doing a bunch of…
on “Apple Patents Suggest Future AirPods Could Monitor Biosignals and Brain Activity” ↗I'm just finishing Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor and I have enjoyed it immensely. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48890486-breath I have previously taken courses in the Wim Hof Method and marvelled…
on “Ask HN: What's the best book you read in 2021?” ↗I read a book called Breath by James Nestor, it’s all about the benefits of nose breathing. Anecdotally this has completely fixed my sleep apnea/ snoring/ energy levels/ etc. Highly recommended!
on “Night of the living brain fog dead or how I hacked myself better via open source” ↗Breath by James Nestor https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breath:_The_New_Science_of_a...
on “Ask HN: Any interesting books you have read lately?” ↗> ... the “only breathe through your nose” crowd always seemed a little woo-woo. Can highly recommend 'Breath' by James Nestor, for some science-focused, non-woo look at the practice. (I'm about 3/4 the way through it --…
on “Why winter exercise can be especially hard on the lungs” ↗Apparently yes, nasal breathing is hugely beneficial. This book was a life changer for me — James Nestor’s Breath: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art: Nestor, James: 9780735213616: Amazon.com: Books Breath: The New Science of…
on “Breathing exercise lowers blood pressure better than working out, medication” ↗On the subject of breathing in general I highly recommend James Nestor’s Breath Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735213615/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_... And numerous podcast interviews by James.…
on “How to Breathe” ↗I breathe deeply and quickly through my nose with my whole torso (rather than just my belly, a mistake I carried along since teen years) to warm myself. I don’t have near the purported abilities some do, but what…
on “Buddha and Mind” ↗…Seals, a Distinguished Professor of Integrative Physiology I laugh at the term "novel" here, and am frustrated that we feel we need to make up a new technique and a new gadget when we could be teaching breathing practices that have been around for millenia. Try "nadi shodhana" or alternate-nostril breathing, using one's own hand to apply pressure (see the appendix of the book Breath by James Nestor; though…
on “5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)” ↗