breath work

noun

variants or breathwork

ˈbreth-ˌwərk 

: conscious, controlled breathing done especially for relaxation, meditation, or therapeutic purposes

Yoga is a 5,000-year-old physical and philosophical discipline from India that joins the mind and body together through breath work, or pranayama, and postures, or asanas.

—Hilary E. MacGregor

Some general principles of breathwork are: make your breathing slower, deeper, quieter, and more regular whenever you think about it; deepen the exhalation phase of breathing by squeezing more air out of the lungs at the end of each breath … and keep your attention on the breath more of the time.

—Andrew Weil

Examples of breath work in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My answers, along with a check of my pulse, form the basis of my treatment itinerary, which includes daily four-hand oil massages, acupuncture, and sessions devoted to cupping, yogic posture, breath work, and meditation. —Prasad Ramamurthy, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2024

Morning poolside wellness experiences vary by day and include offerings like the sound bath, breath work, yoga flow, mat Pilates, and qigong. —Cameron Sperance, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2025

Plus, there’s a daily mantra that complements the breath work element. —Kristin Canning, SELF, 25 Feb. 2025

How to Get Started Practicing breath work does not need to be complicated. —Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for breath work

• artwork
• beadwork
• berserk
• breastwork
• brickwork
• brushwork
• casework
• classwork
• clockwork
• coursework
• ductwork
• earthwork

Medical Definition

breath work

noun

variants or breathwork

: conscious, controlled breathing done especially for relaxation, meditation, or therapeutic purposes

Western practitioners believe yoga's deeply relaxing breath work allows the body's healing abilities to take over.

—Norine Dworkin, Psychology Today