The science is catching up to what the body already knows. A 2023 Stanford study found that five minutes of daily breathwork improved mood and lowered anxiety more than mindfulness meditation, with slow, extended exhales calming the body the most. Broader reviews show that slow breathing strengthens vagal tone and moves the nervous system out of fight or flight and into rest. Researchers have their language for what happens. I have a simpler one: coming home. Read more about the Science of the Exhale.