Can simple breathing really improve your health?

It’s simple and free — yet it appears to have crazy powerful benefits.

madison lavern on Unsplash.

Yogis have known it for 5000 years. And it’s at the core of almost every meditative practice.

Breathing is a simple act we do all day every day.

Done consciously, breathing is said to be very powerful.

Now science is confirming its benefits.

Slow breathing may significantly reduce anxiety

Breathing can truly make us feel calmer.

Slow deep breaths have been long associated with anxiety, depression, and stress.

While it may seem too simple, the practice is strongly backed up by numerous scientific studies.

Deep breathing, for example, decreases cortisol levels (associated with stress), improves attention, and helps mental function.

Studies have also found that slow breathing increases alpha brain waves while decreasing theta waves — which are associated with emotional control and psychological well-being.

It appears that slow, deep breathing really can put you in a calmer state.

Deep breathing has other benefits too