The Forgotten Art of Breathing Well
- QiSong
- Oct 29
- 3 min read
The Forgotten Art of Breathing Well
By Sue Smith | Qisong Living Rhythm Series
Even on Strictly Come Dancing, Tess Daly used to laugh and say,
“Quick — get the oxygen tank!”
as the dancers came off the floor flushed and breathless.
It always made me smile — because it captures something deeply human.
We believe that breathlessness means we needmore air,
when often, we simply need to breathebetter.
In that small confusion — that instinct to gasp rather than pause —
we can see the whole pattern of modern life.
We rush, overwork, overthink, and over-breathe.
The body is forever chasing “more,”
while the soul whispers quietly, “enough.”
The Science Beneath the Breath
Every breath is a chemical conversation between oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Most people know oxygen keeps us alive,
but few realise carbon dioxide is just as vital —
it’s the messenger that tells hemoglobin to release oxygen
to our brain, heart, and muscles.
When we over-breathe — fast, shallow, through the mouth —
carbon dioxide levels drop.
The blood becomes slightly too alkaline,
blood vessels constrict,
and oxygen delivery slows.
The mind panics: “I can’t get enough air!”
And so we breathe even faster —
further deepening the imbalance.
This is the hidden paradox of breathlessness.
It’s not lack of oxygen.
It’s loss of harmony.
The Modern Mirror
This pattern isn’t just physical — it’s cultural.
We live in a world that celebrates excess.
More food. More work. More air.
We inhale endlessly, yet rarely take time to exhale.
Over-breathing and over-doing are two sides of the same coin.
Our breath has become the mirror of our habits —
a reflection of a society that has forgotten what “enough” feels like.
But balance is our birthright.
And breath is how we find our way back.
The Tao of the Pause
In Taoist philosophy, there’s a concept called Wu Wei — effortless action,
the art of allowing life to move through us rather than against us.
In breathing, we practice Wu Wei through the pause.
After an exhale, when you hold the breath softly —
not as a test, but as an invitation —
carbon dioxide rises gently.
Blood flow deepens.
The nervous system learns to trust stillness again.
The inhale is Yang.
The exhale is Yin.
And the pause between them is where they meet —
the breath between worlds.
Qisong Wisdom — The Body’s Recalibration
In Qisong, we don’t force the breath — we listen to it.
We retrain the body to breathe as nature intended:
through the nose, into the belly,
with rhythm, safety, and reverence.
Through gentle movement, sound, and stillness,
we restore tone to the airways,
strength to the diaphragm,
and calm to the nervous system.
We build tolerance to carbon dioxide — not by holding harder,
but by softening into stillness.
This is where healing begins.
Because breath, when remembered, becomes medicine.
Not in the oxygen we take in,
but in the relationship we build with it.
Try This Today
Sit comfortably.
Inhale and exhale softly through your nose.
After your next exhale, hold your breath — gently.
Notice when your body first asks for air.
That moment — the whisper before the inhale —
is your body’s reminder of safety,
its doorway back to balance.
You’re not running out of breath.
You’re remembering what enough feels like.
Continue the Journey
This reflection is part of The Qisong Living Rhythm Series —
a collection of short films and writings exploring how science, spirit, and movement bring us home to balance.
Watch the companion video: The Forgotten Art of Breathing Well on YouTube.
If this speaks to you, subscribe for early access to:
•Retune — The Qisong Daily Reader, a 365-day journey of breath and renewal
• TheRemembrance Series— a gentle space to honour what’s been, release what’s ready to go, and reconnect with the quiet wisdom of the body.
Let this week be your reminder:
Calm doesn’t live in control —
it lives in chemistry, in rhythm, in trust.
Breathe less. Feel more.
Let the pause teach you enoughness.
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