Pillar 1 of 5 · Mechanism

The science of breath and the heart

The cardiologist’s intellectual home. Almost everything breathwork does runs through one pathway. Breath rate moves intrathoracic pressure, which moves the baroreflex, which moves cardiac vagal outflow, which moves your heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rate variability. Explained from your own chest outward, in plain English, accurately.

8 techniques in this pillar

In this pillar

2 live · 6 in development
The science of breath and the nervous system
5 · Solid
Breath holds and CO2 tolerance, explained
3 · Early
What slow breathing does to your heart in real time in development
5 · Solid
The baroreflex, in plain English in development
5 · Solid
Heart rate variability: what your wearable shows, and what it means in development
4 · Promising
The vagus nerve, accurately: what breathing actually does to it in development
4 · Promising
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia: the healthy heartbeat fluctuation in development
5 · Solid
Why exhaling calms you down in development
4 · Promising

The rating is the Breath Honesty Scale: how much the evidence actually supports a technique, from 5 (Solid) to 1 (Unsupported). Pieces marked in development are being written to the full EYANA standard, with primary citations and a contraindication check.

The EYANA Reset A 90-second protocol The Cardiac Breathwork Ladder When to do what The Mogire Contraindication Framework When not to The Breath Honesty Scale How we rate the evidence The EYANA Technique Taxonomy How the techniques sort
Back to EYANA · All breath guides

EYANA is health education, not medical advice. EYANA does not diagnose, treat, or replace your physician, and nothing here is a reason to start, stop, or change any medication or treatment. If you have a heart or lung condition, read the Mogire Contraindication Framework first and talk to your doctor. If you have chest pain, fainting, or a racing heart that will not settle, seek medical care.