The Power of Breath: How important is breathing for Performance and Wellbeing

Over the past decade, wellness has evolved from a concept into an industry - complete with products, influencers, and branding. And while this has raised awareness, it’s also created a paradox. Many people now engage with “wellness” based on how it’s packaged, not how it’s practiced. The result? We’ve started to see wellness as something external - a lifestyle choice or luxury - rather than what it truly is: a set of simple, innate human tools that help us cope, perform, and thrive.

One of the most overlooked of these tools is breathing.

It might sound too simple. After all, breathing is automatic - something we do without thought, around 20,000 times a day. Yet, under pressure, our breathing often becomes shallow, erratic, or restricted. This subtle shift sends powerful signals to the brain, reinforcing stress responses and reducing clarity, focus, and physical performance. When we breathe incorrectly, we literally feed our anxiety.

The science behind correct breathing is undeniable. When we breathe deeply and rhythmically - activating the diaphragm rather than just the upper chest - we trigger the body’s parasympathetic nervous system. This is the “rest and digest” mechanism that slows heart rate, lowers cortisol levels, and restores balance. It’s not abstract mindfulness or meditation - though those have immense value - it’s biology. It’s how the human body was designed to perform at its best.

Proper breathing doesn’t require you to stop what you’re doing. You don’t have to step away for a 10-minute meditation, master a mindfulness technique or invest in expensive equipment. Instead, it’s about breathing in a way that supports the body’s natural rhythm, even during your workday, a presentation, or a high-pressure meeting. When we breathe correctly, we don’t just calm the body - we unlock a state of focus, composure, and presence that enhances everything we do.

The beauty of this is that it’s free, accessible, and always with us. The most powerful performance-enhancing tool we have isn’t found in a wellness app or a yoga studio - it’s found in the breath we take right now.

As organisations continue to grapple with stress, burnout, and the relentless pace of modern work, perhaps the future of wellness lies not in more products, but in returning to the basics. Learning to breathe properly isn’t just an act of self-care - it’s a strategy for sustainable performance, resilience, and clarity in a world that rarely slows down.

So, the next time you feel the pressure rising, don’t reach for your phone or a second coffee. Pause. Breathe deeply. And remember - you already have the tool you need to reset, refocus, and perform.

This content was created in collaboration with Sarah Laurie, Founder of Take a breath. Find out more about Take a breath and the importance of breathing.