Ep. #951: James Nestor on the Art and Science of Breathing

Breathing might sound like a boring topic. It’s our most basic biological function, and something we do unconsciously every day. So, it may seem shocking that a book with the title Breath could become a New York Times bestseller. The reality is breathing is a lot more fascinating than many people realize, and how you do it can have drastic effects on your health. That’s something James Nestor (the author of Breath) discovered while researching his book, which explores how humans have lost the ability to breathe properly and how it affects our health in various ways, including snoring, sleep apnea, asthma, autoimmune disease, and allergies. And all that is why I invited James onto the podcast to discuss this often-ignored aspect of everyday life and how we can change our breathing habits to improve our lives. In this interview, James and I discuss . . . Why you’re probably a mouth breather (even if you think you’re not) How breathing affects sleep and what you can do to fix snoring Resonant, coherent breathing and how it affects mental and physical health Tips on how to breathe and what to do in between sets in the gym And more . . . In case you’re not familiar with James, he’s an author and journalist who has written for Scientific American, Outside Magazine, BBC, The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Public Radio, and more. So, if you're at all curious how your breathing technique is affecting your health, and what you can do to improve your breathing patterns, sleep, and more, don’t miss this podcast! --- Timestamps: 0:00 - Try Recharge today! Go to https://buylegion.com/recharge and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points! 4:06 - What inspired you to write the book Breath? 5:17 - Why are we the worst breathers? 10:22 - What are some of the negative effects of bad breathing habits? 12:03 - Can you explain “mouth taping”? 14:32 - How does mouth tapping while sleeping affect sleep cycles and stress levels? 16:16 - Can we train ourselves to breathe better? 19:04 - Do you recommend any breathing routines? 20:41: - What do you mean by breathing at a slower rhythm 25:01 - Can you explain some mouth taping techniques? 28:57 - Are there some symptoms of mouth breathing during your sleep? 31:39 - How to deal with tape adhesive? 41:52 - Is there anything you would like to add? 47:26 - Do breathing techniques benefit recovery during workouts? 50:57 - Where can we find you and your work? --- Mentioned on the show: Try Recharge today! Go to https://buylegion.com/recharge and use coupon code MUSCLE to save 20% or get double reward points! Breath: https://www.amazon.com/Breath-New-Science-Lost-Art/dp/0735213615/?tag=mflweb-20 James Nestor’s Website: www.mrjamesnestor.com