Improved Lung Function (Pranayama)

[Jozin88]

As an asthmatic, I should know better—and mine used to be really bad. This habit still aggravates my lungs from time to time, but it used to be much worse. I went from needing my inhaler after every session to now only needing it maybe once or twice a month—usually if I’m seriously winded and my lungs feel like they’ve been kicked in (like after a badly mistimed dab).

I credit a lot of that improvement to breathing exercises I learned from a psychologist I met when I returned to university as a mature student. She introduced me to Pranayama—the branch of yoga that focuses specifically on breath control.

I’m not a spiritual person, but I was drawn to the practical benefits of meditation: improved cognitive performance, better stress regulation, and—unexpectedly—better lung function. It’s not a cure, but it’s made a huge difference.

These days, I routinely do alternate nostril breathing in the mornings and deep diaphragmatic breathing at night before bed. Over the past 3–4 years, my pulmonologist has seen significant, measurable improvements in my lung function at every check-up. I can now push harder when lifting or playing basketball, and most of the time I don’t need my inhaler. A few years ago, just running up a flight of stairs would leave me gasping.

Even when vaping or dabbing now, I rarely get asthmatic symptoms compared to how things used to be.

Just wanted to share my experience—in case it helps someone else.

 

[Fearless Disaster]

As an asthmatic, I should know better—and mine used to be really bad. This habit still aggravates my lungs from time to time, but it used to be much worse. I went from needing my inhaler after every session to now only needing it maybe once or twice a month—usually if I’m seriously winded and my lungs feel like they’ve been kicked in (like after a badly mistimed dab).

I credit a lot of that improvement to breathing exercises I learned from a psychologist I met when I returned to university as a mature student. She introduced me to Pranayama—the branch of yoga that focuses specifically on breath control.

I’m not a spiritual person, but I was drawn to the practical benefits of meditation: improved cognitive performance, better stress regulation, and—unexpectedly—better lung function. It’s not a cure, but it’s made a huge difference.

These days, I routinely do alternate nostril breathing in the mornings and deep diaphragmatic breathing at night before bed. Over the past 3–4 years, my pulmonologist has seen significant, measurable improvements in my lung function at every check-up. I can now push harder when lifting or playing basketball, and most of the time I don’t need my inhaler. A few years ago, just running up a flight of stairs would leave me gasping.

Even when vaping or dabbing now, I rarely get asthmatic symptoms compared to how things used to be.

Just wanted to share my experience—in case it helps someone else.

Pranayama is the bomb. When you say deep diaphragmatic breathing is that like belly breaths, where only the bottom of the lungs inflate?

 

[Jozin88]

Pranayama is the bomb. When you say deep diaphragmatic breathing is that like belly breaths, where only the bottom of the lungs inflate?

Yes, "belly breathing" is what she called it.


A strong inhale through the nose while expanding the belly—making it rise and protrude—then holding for a few seconds. Exhale slowly, as if blowing through a straw, and once the breath is fully out, hold again briefly before repeating.

 

[Fearless Disaster]

Yes, "belly breathing" is what she called it.


A strong inhale through the nose while expanding the belly—making it rise and protrude—then holding for a few seconds. Exhale slowly, as if blowing through a straw, and once the breath is fully out, hold again briefly before repeating.

Thanks, and I'm glad you had a positive experience with pranayama! I'm glad she mentioned the holds at the top and bottom of the breath, they matter. Theres another one called square breathing where you take the same number of counts to breathe in, hold in, breathe out, hold out that i used to practice, its good for calming down anxiety, etc. You don't need to limit that one to belly breaths though. Rock on and thanks for sharing!