THE SCIENCE OF BREATHING PROPERLY

For thousands of years, yoga students have been taught that controlling their breathing can bring a sense of calm, while it is a truism that taking a few deep breaths can lower rage. But until now nobody knew why it worked.

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of California identified 175 brain cells that spy on the breath and alter state of mind accordingly. The study suggests it is indeed possible to reverse-engineer your mood simply by altering breathing.

Mark Krasnow, professor of biochemistry at Stanford University School of Medicine, said: “If something’s impairing or accelerating your breathing, you need to know right away. These 175 neurons, which tell the rest of the brain what’s going on, are absolutely critical.”