In recent years, the word breathwork has become everywhere. It shows up in wellness programs, recovery routines, and even in high-performance training. But what does it actually mean? Is it just a trend, or does it have real physiological foundations?
The answer lies in how we understand breathing itself. Breathing is much more than an automatic act. It’s a function that connects the body with the nervous system, tissue oxygenation, and overall performance. That’s why breathwork, literally “working the breath”, includes any practice aimed at improving how we breathe: from relaxation and mindfulness techniques to targeted respiratory muscle training.
From a physiological standpoint, breathing control influences three major systems: the ventilatory, cardiovascular, and autonomic nervous systems. Changing the rate or depth of breathing alters carbon dioxide levels, blood pH, and heart rate [1][2]. This means that by consciously controlling our breathing, we can directly influence functions we often consider automatic. That’s the scientific basis behind breathwork [3].
For an athlete or coach, this understanding opens a new dimension of training. It’s not only about how many watts can be sustained or how high the VO₂max is, it’s also about how efficiently the body regulates itself under stress. Uncoordinated or overly rapid breathing increases fatigue, disrupts alveolar ventilation, and reduces energy efficiency. On the other hand, a stable, efficient breathing pattern improves oxygen delivery, delays lactate buildup, and enhances perceived effort control [4][5].
Until recently, breathing was an almost invisible territory. It was discussed in terms of sensations, but not measured precisely. Now, technology is changing that. Tools like CHASKi make it possible to observe respiratory rate, heart–breath synchronization, and physiological responses in real time. What used to be a subjective awareness exercise can now be quantified objectively [6].
This transition, from mindfulness to measurement, marks the future of respiratory training. It means moving from practicing breathing as an art to training it as a physiological skill. The goal isn’t to replace internal awareness, but to enhance it with accurate data. With that information, coaches and health professionals can design interventions that are more personalized and effective [7].
At CHASKi, we believe breathing is the bridge between science and body awareness. Measuring it doesn’t take away its depth, it gives it context. Understanding how we breathe lets us regain control over something both basic and powerful.
Because training your breath isn’t just about breathing better. It’s about learning to regulate your body, improve performance, and protect your health, with a tool that has always been there, waiting to be understood with the same precision we apply to every other aspect of training.
Sources
[1] Russo, M. A., Santarelli, D. M., & O’Rourke, D. (2017). The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human. Breathe, 13(4), 298–309. https://doi.org/10.1183/20734735.009817
[2] Yasuma, F., & Hayano, J. (2004). Respiratory sinus arrhythmia: Why does the heartbeat synchronize with respiratory rhythm? Chest, 125(2), 683–690. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.125.2.683
[3] Noble, D. J., & Hochman, S. (2019). Hypothesis: Pulmonary afferent activity patterns during slow, deep breathing contribute to the neural induction of physiological relaxation. Frontiers in Physiology, 10, 1176. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01176
[4] Verges, S., Boutellier, U., & Spengler, C. M. (2008). Effect of respiratory muscle training on endurance performance.Sports Medicine, 38(9), 647–666. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200838090-00002
[5] Tong, T. K., Fu, F. H., & Chung, P. K. (2008). The effect of inspiratory muscle training on performance in competitive swimmers. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 7(1), 79–85.
[6] Takarada, Y., & Nozawa, K. (2022). Effects of slow breathing on heart rate variability and stress responses: A review of physiological mechanisms. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 304, 103907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2022.103907
[7] Courtney, R. (2021). Breathing retraining in sleep-disordered breathing and hyperventilation-related conditions—A review of the evidence base. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 25, 104–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.09.006