7 Common Myths About Breathwork (And The Truth You Need to Hear)

Debunking Common Myths About Breathwork

Breathwork has become increasingly popular in recent years, showing up in everything from wellness podcasts to therapy offices to corporate wellness programs. But with that visibility has come a fair share of misconceptions. As someone who has guided thousands through breathwork—both privately and in group settings—I hear the same questions and doubts pop up again and again.

So today, I want to set the record straight by debunking some of the most common myths about breathwork. Whether you're brand new to the practice or still on the fence, I’m here to help you understand what breathwork actually is, how it works, and why its benefits could be the missing piece in your healing journey.

Myth #1: Breathwork Is Just Deep Breathing

The truth: Breathwork goes far beyond simply taking deep breaths.

While deep breathing is a helpful technique, breathwork involves intentional patterns of breathing designed to shift your nervous system, release stored emotions, and create real energetic movement in the body.

In my sessions, I use a two-stage pranayama-style breath that activates the parasympathetic nervous system and helps you tap into your subconscious. Many people experience emotional releases, clarity, physical sensations, and a deep sense of presence that’s very different from casual deep breathing.

Myth #2: You Have to Be Spiritual to Benefit from Breathwork

The truth: Breathwork supports everyone, regardless of their belief system.

You don’t need to consider yourself spiritual to receive the benefits of breathwork. It’s a physiological practice that works on a nervous system and cellular level. If you’re human and you breathe, this work is for you.

Many of my clients come from traditional or secular backgrounds. Some are high-achieving professionals. Some are parents, creatives, or entrepreneurs. What they all have in common is a desire to feel better, release stress, and come back into alignment, and breathwork helps them do exactly that.

Myth #3: Breathwork Is Too Intense for Beginners

The truth: There are breathwork techniques suitable for every level.

While some breathwork sessions can be emotionally intense, there are many gentle practices that are perfect for beginners. In fact, I always meet my clients where they are. We start with shorter, softer sessions that help your body feel safe, supported, and grounded before moving into deeper work.

Some people cry during their first session. Others just feel relaxed. There’s no right or wrong response. What matters is that you show up and breathe.

Myth #4: You Need a Lot of Time to Practice Breathwork

The truth: Even five minutes can make a difference.

This is one of the biggest myths about breathwork I hear, and it holds so many people back from getting started.

You don’t need to block off an hour or commit to a major practice. Just five minutes of conscious breathing can shift your entire day. It can reset your nervous system, bring you into the present moment, and help you respond rather than react.

Many of my clients use breathwork between meetings, before bedtime, or even while sitting in traffic. It’s about intention, not duration.

Myth #5: Breathwork Is Just for Stress Relief

The truth: Stress relief is just the beginning.

Yes, breathwork is incredibly effective at lowering cortisol, releasing tension, and calming the nervous system—but that’s only the surface.

Breathwork can also:

• Help process unhealed grief and trauma

• Create emotional breakthroughs

• Reconnect you to your intuition

• Increase creativity and focus

• Improve sleep, digestion, and overall energy

When you begin to explore this practice consistently, it becomes a tool not just for coping, but for transformation.

Myth #6: It’s Not “Real” Healing Compared to Therapy or Coaching

The truth: Breathwork accesses areas traditional methods sometimes can’t reach.

As someone who has done years of therapy and breathwork, I believe both are incredibly valuable. But the beauty of breathwork is that it works with the body, the energy field, and the subconscious all at once.

Many of my clients say breathwork helped them release things they’d been intellectually processing for years but couldn’t fully let go of. It creates a felt sense of relief and clarity that goes deeper than mindset work alone.

This is why I integrate breathwork with intuitive coaching and nervous system regulation, it’s a powerful combination that supports holistic healing.

Myth #7: It’s Not for Me Because I Don’t Know How to Meditate

The truth: Breathwork is actually easier than meditation for many people.

If you’ve struggled with traditional meditation, because your mind won’t stop or you feel like you’re “doing it wrong”, breathwork might be exactly what you need.

Because it’s an active process, it gives your brain something to do while your body releases and processes. Many clients who felt frustrated with meditation find that breathwork helps them drop in much more easily.

Breathwork doesn’t require stillness or silence. It just asks you to show up and breathe.

Final Thoughts on the Myths About Breathwork

If any of these myths about breathwork have been holding you back, I hope this post gave you the clarity to reconsider.

Breathwork isn’t just a trend. It’s an ancient, science-backed, body-centered practice that offers deep relief and renewal—no matter where you are on your healing journey.

You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to understand everything. You just need to breathe.

Ready to breathe with me? Book your private healing session and walk away feeling rejuvenated, clear, and deeply connected to yourself.