The Oxygen Advantage: The Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques for a Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter You

some of these researchers were also showing that many modern maladies—asthma, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psoriasis, and more—could either be reduced or reversed simply by changing the way we inhale and exhale.

I took my doctor’s advice and signed up for an introductory course in breathing to learn a technique called Sudarshan Kriya.

Also helpful is an Eastern-philosophy-influenced suggestion detailed in John Douillard’s book Body, Mind, and Sport that recommends breathing only through your nose to minimize the stress of a workout. If you are exercising in the aerobic heart rate zone, you should be able to obtain sufficient oxygen using only your nose, but you’ll know you’re ex

Slower, longer exhales, of course, mean higher carbon dioxide levels. With that bonus carbon dioxide, we gain a higher aerobic endurance. This measurement of highest oxygen consumption, called VO2 max, is the best gauge of cardiorespiratory fitness. Training the body to breathe less actually increases VO2 max, which can not only boost athletic stam