How I work
There’s a lot of half-truth about breathing out there, and much of it sounds good. This page explains how the articles on this blog are made, where their claims come from and where their limits are.
Every claim has a source
When an article says something works, there’s a study, a review or a clinical guideline behind it. Every source is opened in the original and checked for two things: does it exist, and does it say what the article says? Sources are numbered at the end of each article and link to the original paper, usually through its DOI or PubMed.
Numbers come only from the original paper, not from news stories or other blogs. I don’t make up quotes, experts or testimonials, and I don’t borrow famous names to sell anything.
How I weigh the evidence
Not every study carries the same weight, so each article says what a claim rests on:
- Systematic review or meta-analysis: pools many studies. The strongest foundation, as long as the individual studies are sound.
- Randomized controlled trial: participants are assigned to groups at random, and one group serves as a comparison. The article says how many took part and for how long.
- Small or uncontrolled study: an early hint, not proof, and the article says so.
- Basic research, for example in animals or cells: explains how something works in the body but says little about what an exercise will do for you.
- Tradition and experience: labeled as such.
When the research is thin or contradictory, I write that down, even if it sounds less exciting than “calm in 60 seconds.”
Not medical advice
The articles are about relaxation, winding down, focus and breaks, not about diseases. Medical conditions only come up in safety notes. The articles explain breathing exercises in general terms, don’t diagnose anything and don’t replace an examination or treatment. nowa isn’t a medical device either. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or aren’t sure an exercise is right for you, talk to your doctor first. If you have trouble breathing, chest pain or any other emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Safety first
Never do breath-hold exercises in water, while driving or standing without support. If you feel dizzy or your hands tingle, stop and breathe normally. These notes also appear in every article where they matter.
How I use AI
I’m open about working with AI. Claude, an AI assistant made by Anthropic, helps me research, check sources and write first drafts. I decide what gets published:
- Every study an article cites is opened in the original and checked against the text.
- I read and approve every article before it goes live, and I’m responsible for the content.
- I don’t publish text nobody has read, and I don’t mass-produce. Fewer articles that are right beat many that aren’t.
- The animations are drawn and coded (with SVG and CSS), not made with an image generator. AI helps with the coding, too.
nowa, money and my own interest
This blog belongs to nowa, the breathing app I’m building, and nowa pays for it. So I have a stake: I’d like you to use nowa. That’s why I keep two things apart: what the research shows, and what I recommend. When an exercise is also in nowa, the article says so, and each article ends with a note about the app. The exercises in the articles work without the app, too. I don’t take money for mentions and don’t use affiliate links.
Corrections and updates
Every article shows when its sources were last checked, and I add new research as it comes out. If you find a mistake, write to support@nowabreathing.com. I’ll fix it and note larger changes at the end of the article.
Responsible for content
I’m Florian Wagner, and I’m responsible for the content. The postal address is in the legal notice, and there’s more about me on the page about Florian.
Last updated: October 28, 2026