Did you know there’s actually a correct way to breathe? It’s through the nose.
In fact, nasal breathing increases oxygen by 20% as compared to mouth breathing. It’s a technique that’s been tried and tested through the years—from Buddhist monks to Native American Indians to Olympic athletes—they all recognized the importance of breathing through the mouth. In fact, slow breathing (inhales and exhales) can lead to increased performance in all areas of life—just ask Olympic athletes.
But when you breathe through the mouth, it can actually be unhealthy—mouth breathing can lead to cavities, snoring, and sleep apnea (James Nestor, Breath).
I’ve always wondered why yoga and meditation teachers stressed the importance of breathing through the nose—it’s actually supported by science. Well science plus thousands of years of wisdom (just ask Buddhist monks).