08/06/2026
Of course, F has to be the F of the Functional Breathing alphabet.
What is the difference between Functional Breathing and other types of Breathwork.?
Well this might get me into hot water (or hot air!) as there are different interpretations of this, so this is my understanding from the Buteyko Clinic that I trained with.
1,) Functional Breathing is when we learn to change our unconscious breathing habits so that our regular 24/7 breathing is nasal, soft, quiet and diaphragmatic. This has many benefits to the health of the body, including the nervous system.
2,) Breathwork - this is very popular at the moment. In general it focuses on learning breathing exercises that will calm or invigorate your nervous sysem, or keep it at an equilibrium. It may improve functional breathing, but that is not the primary focus.
3.) Pranayama - if you go to a yoga class you may be taught breathing exercises like alternate nostril breathing or Ujjayi (Ocean breath). Here I may get into hot water again, but I follow the school of thought that Pranayama is training your body to breathe less through retention of the breath, (Kumbhaka). Which means alternative nostril breathing and Ujjayi are not pranayama, but Kriyas. Interpretations of the sutras (Ancient texts) differ and someone else may tell you something different.
What they all do have in common is breathing through the nose. If you start there you'll go a long way!
