Breathing is regulated by three main areas of the brain: the medulla oblongata for automatic breathing, the limbic system for emotional reactions and the cerebral cortex for conscious control. These processes allow us to adapt our breathing to different situations, including emotional states, and create the conditions for us to consciously train our breathing. This also allows us to train our breathing rate. Breathing rate is crucial, especially for the balance of carbon dioxide, which changes the pH and thus regulates the release of oxygen to the cells. Continuous rapid breathing impairs the oxygen supply to the brain, which can lead to reduced sympathetic and parasympathetic functions of the autonomic nervous system. Breathing too fast increases the heart rate and increases stress. Breathing rate is therefore crucial in regulating physical and emotional responses.

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As explained and proven in the chapters of my dissertation, breathing can have a direct effect on our heart rate variability, and therefore on the condition of our heart and the balance of our autonomic nervous system, and consequently also on the quality of our sleep, our perception of stress, depression, how we deal with social contacts, our perception of anxiety and self-worth, and especially our ability to relax. All of these factors determine whether we have enough vital energy to cope with the stresses of life, to work productively, to be social in a community, to be resilient to everyday stress and to maintain regenerative processes. Breathing can therefore have a direct impact on the above factors and thus have a positive effect on our mental health.