Podcast Episode 104: Breath with James Nestor

Podcast Episode 104: Breath with James Nestor

October 5, 2020 | 60 minutes, 54 seconds
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Podcast Show Notes

James Nestor is an author and journalist who has written for Scientific American, Outside, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more. His latest book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, was released May 26, 2020 by Riverhead/Penguin Random House. Breath was an instant New York Times bestseller and will be translated into more than 15 languages in 2021.

Nestor’s first book, Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science, and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves, was published in 2014 and was a finalist for the 2015 PEN/ESPN Award For Literary Sports Writing, an Amazon Best Science Book of 2014, and more. Nestor has appeared on dozens of national television shows, including ABC’s Nightline and CBS Morning News, and on NPR. He lives and breathes in San Francisco.

Additional Resources on Breathing

Ayurveda Meets Modern Science is hosted by Dr. John Douillard, DC, CAP, founder of LifeSpa and author of seven health books (including bestselling Eat Wheat and The 3-Season Diet), seven online courses (including Yoga Journal courses Ayurveda 101 and 201), and numerous free eBooks.

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8 thoughts on “Podcast Episode 104: Breath with James Nestor”

  1. This was a fabulous podcast. Thank you for interviewing James Nestor. I have read Deep and Breath and loved them both. This is information that needs to get to everyone. Thank you for promoting nose breathing. I am lucky to already be a nose breather. But there is always room to improve. Now i have more tools. Thank you, Venice

    Reply
  2. This was a great podcast! Thank you both for your research and passion to educate us on the power of the breath and nose breathing. I have tried mouth taping and found it very relaxing to start and then a few hours in needed to remove. I was taping across but having viewed Jim using a small piece up and down is a great idea and I’m anxious to try again. I have tried Dr D’s breathing techniques and appreciate the videos. Really great interview–again, thank you both.

    Reply
  3. Excellent podcast, I actually bought the book before I heard you two. It’s on its way, I am excited to take all the information in. I teach Ujjayi Pranayama in my yoga and meditation classes, and has helped students immensely, breathing slowly and observed. Now we are working on brief retentions, 3 to 4 Om counts, and is also working.

    What is your opinion about the breath done in pilates, breathing in through the nose out through the mouth.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Hi Claudia,

      Thanks for the kind words!

      Personally, I prefer nose breathing but do not argue the benefits pilates delivers with the exhalation through the mouth.

      Be Well,
      Dr. John

      Reply
  4. This wonderful information brings up some questions. First, I was told by an integrative dr that the 4-7-8 breathing popularized by Dr. A. Weil has been shown by research to lower cortisol. Since 4-7-8 breathing retains the in breath, is this contradictory to saying that holding the in breath is oxygenating and enlivening, while holding after exhaling is more sedating? Secondly, are palate spreaders only available through orthodontists? Thanks!

    Reply

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