Viva Lachance, RN, BSc, NC-BC, NBC-HWC, LMC, CPT, RYT 200, founder and owner of AquaGenesis Wellness, is an expert in breathwork and helping individuals find a state of calm they can easily adapt into their daily life.
Gentle breathwork isn’t a trend.
It’s a physiological practice backed by clear findings from neuroscience and cardiology. Slow, controlled breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, the body’s “rest and repair” mode, and helps recover from the sympathetic nervous system, or the bodies’ “fight-or-flight” response to stress. Studies from institutions such as Stanford and Harvard show that this shift lowers chronic stress, one of the strongest predictors of accelerated aging and cardiac events. Controlled breathing has also been shown to improve heart rate variability, the natural fluctuation in the time between heartbeats, and reflects how well your nervous system adapts to stress and recovery.
Research on diaphragmatic breathing demonstrates reductions in inflammation and more efficient mitochondrial function, allowing cells to produce energy with less oxidative stress. Studies in neurophysiology show that breathing patterns influence emotional regulation and stress‑related gene expression, reducing the biological strain that accumulates over time.
So, breathwork is not just a trend; it’s a science-backed tool you can use and practice anywhere, anytime—even before work meetings, conversations, competitions, etc., to help lower stress. Breathwork is one of the most accessible ways to support a longer, steadier life—one slow breath at a time.
