“A transformative book that changes how you think about your body and mind.” – Joshua Foer, New York Times bestselling author.
After seeing a Netflix Documentary about Wim Hof, I began practicing Tummo breathwork on a near-daily basis and taking cold showers. At the time, I didn’t know the breathing technique had any specific name. Then, I learned about the history of Tummo before Wim Hof through listening to a podcast on The Joe Rogan Experience with James Nestor about the different ways breath impacts our bodies, and decided to purchase his book to continue diving deeper. Upon reflection, I can honestly say it is directly responsible for several tangible changes in my life.
The book begins with a brief history of how our diets and lifestyles directly contribute to the underdevelopment of our jaws and sinus cavities. The lack of chewing associated with highly processed foods as we grow has caused a new epidemic that started long before coronavirus – the braces epidemic. Before the last century, people rarely had the problem of underdeveloped jawlines – now, a significant percentage of teenagers need braces. He details a few of the effects on overall health; then, Nestor dives straight into the impact of breathing through your mouth by securing his nose shut for an entire month by plugging up his nostrils.
The results were devastating. It impacted everything from Nestor’s mental health and clarity to his energy levels, congestion, digestion, sleep, skin, blood pressure, physical health, and more. After, he describes what happened as he unplugged his nose and how long the recovery took. He draws logical conclusions from the experience, which was mirrored by a colleague who went through the same experiment as Nestor, and presents scientific evidence about how nasal breathing is superior to mouth breathing in every respect. He points out how mouth breathing is only there for desperate times, and even then, he will later describe how slow and steady nasal breathing helps you focus and remain calm in high-pressure situations.
Though the book makes bold claims, it presents a plethora of evidence and citations to back them up. Nestor details his own experience and relationship with breathing and how it changed over time. He then goes over the history of different breathing techniques and why they’re beneficial as he discusses various parts of our biology impacted by our breath. Towards the end, he inserted a glossary that contains every technique mentioned, drawn everywhere from the military to Ancient Tibetan monasteries. I still practice the Wim Hof Method, which he gave me a much better understanding of, and when combined with the knowledge delivered in this book, I can say:
- My sleeping has improved.
- I gained endurance in my workouts by changing my breathing patterns based on his suggestions.
- I can better calm my heart rate in tense situations simply by practicing his techniques.
- I have less congestion and mucus build-up.
- I enjoy more control over my energy levels.
- My focus is sharper, my moods are more consistent, and I simply feel more centered.
Though this list is not exhaustive, it details a few of the most noticeable impacts. Overall, I highly recommend it and believe the knowledge in this book is so essential it should likely be taught in school. Until then, we are lucky enough to be able to purchase it on Amazon. Find out more about James Nestor and the book by clicking here. See below for a clip from his Joe Rogan interview where he explains how our diets have impacted our nasal cavities.
