summary ofBreathBook by James Nestor

first KEY POINT

Breathe to live healthily and live to breathe right

James Nestor’s life gradually collapsed. He suffered from stress and the effects of severe pneumonia. His doctor advised him to take breathing courses. Thus began a journey that changed his life.The abbots of the course taught their students a method called Sudarshan Kriya. The participants were asked to close their eyes, inhale slowly through their noses, and exhale slowly, focusing on their breath. The instructor said that each inhalation supplies us with energy, and exhalation frees the body of old, stagnant energy. At first, Nestor did not track any changes. But when the practice was over, he was surprised that he felt very hot; it was as if he had run a marathon. The day after class, Nestor felt calm and relaxed.As it turned out, the art of breathing can do amazing things with the body and human capabilities. Nestor got acquainted with free divers who can dive to a depth of 30 to 90 meters while holding their breath. Breathing was their medicine and a mechanism by which the body reached new possibilities. Nestor also found special breathing techniques in ancient Chinese manuscripts dating back to 400 BC. They said that breathing could both destroy and heal. Still, many doctors and scientists are sure that air simply provides our livelihoods and does not have unique perks.

However, our ways of breathing get worse every year. Improper breathing may lead to many health issues, both physical and mental. But we can avoid them with simple inhalation and exhalation.