If you only have a few seconds: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials has shown that breathwork is beneficial for managing stress and possibly anxiety and depression. Another study showed that mindfulness meditation and various conscious breathing techniques are all beneficial for managing one’s emotional state. But one breathing technique stands out from the rest: […]

N.B.: This text is a slightly modified version of an article produced in collaboration with the Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Études Montréalaises (McGill University) on Nordicité Fluviale. Winter swimming in (very) cold water is popular in many countries. This practice is traditional in Scandinavian, Baltic or Russian cultures, where it is generally associated with

If you only have a few seconds: Hypoventilation training consists of performing phases of effort while holding your breath, intermittently. This training method delays muscle fatigue due to lactate accumulation. It could also increase endurance performance and improve psychocognitive resilience to fatigue and breathlessness. …if you have a few minutes, read on… Foreword: The background

PART 2: How to Breathe While Running (Many thanks to MFV, PhD and multi-bostonian for proofreading this article) If you only have a few seconds: Breathing can become limiting when running and cause shortness of breath. In order to delay this phenomenon, it can be interesting to set up breathing habits while running: breathe more

PART 1: Breathing Functions and Limitations During Running (Many thanks to MFV, PhD and multi-bostonian for proofreading this article) If you only have a few seconds: When running, energy expenditure and locomotion speed increase. Respiratory rate and volume adapt in response to produce energy. Beyond the metabolism, the respiratory chain facilitates locomotion. In some cases

If you only have a few seconds: Nasal breathing follows a cycle of alternating congestion/decongestion between the two nostrils. Unilateral nasal breathing involves blocking one nostril to breathe through only one. Nasal breathing has an effect on brain activity, but the scientific understanding is not clear yet. A recent study suggests that unilateral nasal breathing

If you only have a few seconds: It has been shown that practicing the Wim Hof Method can reduce acute inflammation. A new study has just been published on this subject. Not only does it confirm the previous data, but it also shows that the breathing technique is the most important factor in reducing inflammation.

If you have a few seconds: The E. coli endotoxin protocol is used to study the effects of an intervention, in this case the practice of the Wim Hof Method, on acute inflammation. It does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about infection control. If you have a few minutes, keep reading… I’ve been

If you only have 5 seconds: In addition to many other wellness benefits, laughing trains the muscles of the respiratory chain. However, in people with respiratory diseases, the benefits of laughter are still uncertain. Otherwise, read on… Folk wisdom has highlighted laughter in the form of multiple proverbs, in all cultures around the world. In

The release of season 2 of the Dérives podcast, by Olivier Bernard, is an opportunity to dive back into the excellent season 1. As a reminder, this series investigates a death that occurred during a new-age ritual and analyzes the cultish context around the drama. But why talk about it on this blog, dedicated mainly