breath work
noun
variants
or breathwork
: 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
Hilary E. MacGregorSome 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
Andrew WeilExamples of breath work in a Sentence
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Cascada also has a range of other spa services and wellness offerings—from yoga, meditation, and breath work to mud treatments and crushed-ice body exfoliation.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
The activity is meant to teach students breath work, grit and body control, according to Shenker.
—Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
There are rolled-up yoga mats in the corner, and a chalkboard outside lists times for a breath work class with Sarah, a sound bath session with Guilia, and restorative yoga and meditation in the afternoon.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Practicing certain breathing exercises, known as breath work, engages our psychosomatic responses by regulating oxygen flow and mental focus.
—Stefanie Groner, Glamour, 4 Feb. 2026
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Feb. 2026
The activity is meant to teach students breath work, grit and body control, according to Shenker.
—Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 18 Feb. 2026
There are rolled-up yoga mats in the corner, and a chalkboard outside lists times for a breath work class with Sarah, a sound bath session with Guilia, and restorative yoga and meditation in the afternoon.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
Practicing certain breathing exercises, known as breath work, engages our psychosomatic responses by regulating oxygen flow and mental focus.
—Stefanie Groner, Glamour, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for breath work
Cite this Entry
“Breath work.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breath%20work. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Norine Dworkin, Psychology TodayLove words? Need even more definitions?
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