When we consider our health and well-being, we scrutinize the foods we eat or the amount of stress we’re under. Rarely, if ever, do we consider the ways we breathe—yet acclaimed science journalist James Nestor says that poor breathing habits are linked to a laundry list of chronic health problems and roadblocks to success: lost focus and concentration, anxiety, sleep issues, and even cavities and crooked teeth. James shows how we’ve lost the art of breathing properly, and teaches us how to get it back again.

In his landmark book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, James seeks out what went wrong and shows us how to fix it with a mix of science, humor, history, and simple, constructive takeaways. You’ll never breathe the same again. Brilliantly researched and utterly fascinating, Breath has earned praise from New York Times bestselling author Joshua Foer, who calls it a “transformative book that changes how you think about your body and mind.” Breath became an instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and London Sunday Times bestseller, and has been translated into over 44 languages. It was awarded the Best General Nonfiction Book of the Year by the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and was a finalist for the Royal Society’s Best Science Book of the Year.

Course Theme: Breath Mechanics, Nasal Breathing, and the “Perfect Breath” in Practice

Key Topics covered: 

• The case for nasal breathing

How and why nasal breathing filters, humidifies, pressurizes, and conditions air, with practical strategies to transition chronic mouth breathers into consistent nasal respirators for better daytime energy and sleep quality.

• Resonant breathing and coherence (~5.5 breaths per minute)

Guided practice and science background for slow, rhythmic breathing to support autonomic balance and HRV; how to coach clients toward sustainable daily protocols.

• CO₂ tolerance, chemoreflex resetting, and performance

Translating the physiology (Bohr effect, sensitivity to CO₂) into safe, measurable progressions for resilience, anxiety reduction, and endurance.

• Sleep, airways, and everyday behaviors

What posture, oral habits, and nighttime breathing patterns do to the airway; practical, ethical guidance for client education and referral when medical evaluation is indicated.

• Inside the Stanford-guided mouth-vs-nose experiment

Lessons learned from Nestor’s documented 10-day mouth-breathing trial and the rapid improvements seen when nasal breathing was restored; how to present these insights responsibly in clinical and coaching settings.

• Bridging ancient and modern

Weaving Nestor’s accessible synthesis with yogic pranayama principles so students can communicate the why behind practice to clients, teams, and medical collaborators.