Health and safety

Breathe safely

Breathwork is powerful. Most people find it calming or energising, but some techniques, especially fast breathing and breath holds, can make you light-headed, dizzy or emotional, and in rare cases faint. Please read this before you practise or teach.

Last updated 18 October 2026

Please do not do fast breathing or breath holds if you

• are pregnant
• have heart disease, a history of heart attack, or high blood pressure that is not controlled
• have epilepsy or have ever had a seizure
• have glaucoma or a detached retina
• have had an aneurysm or a stroke
• have had recent surgery or a recent injury
• have severe osteoporosis
• take blood-thinning medication
• have bipolar disorder, a psychotic illness, or have been in hospital for your mental health or in a crisis in recent years

If you have asthma, keep your inhaler close. If you live with trauma or PTSD, choose gentle, calming classes, ideally after talking to your therapist. Gentle, slow breathing is usually fine for most people, but when in doubt, ask a professional.

Where and how

• Never practise in or near water, in the bath, or together with cold water or ice. Fast breathing followed by a breath hold can make you pass out without warning.
• Never practise while driving, cycling or operating anything.
• Do fast breathing and holds lying down or sitting with support, never standing or moving.
• Afterwards, sit up slowly and give yourself a few minutes before you stand up or drive.

During a class

• You are always in charge. You can slow down, breathe normally or stop at any moment.
• Tingling in the hands or face and light-headedness are common. They pass when you slow down.
• A breath hold ends when your body asks for air. Never push past that.
• Pain is never a good sign. Stop if anything hurts, or if you feel unwell, very dizzy, short of breath or confused.
• Strong feelings can come up. That is normal, and you can open your eyes, sit up and stop whenever you need to.

If you are having a hard time

Breathwork is not therapy. If you feel in crisis or unsafe, please contact your local emergency number or a crisis line where you live.

For teachers using Sigh Club

Sigh Club lets you mark who is in your room (for example pregnancy, heart conditions or anxiety) and removes techniques that do not suit them. These options help, but they do not replace your own training, your screening of participants and your judgement in the room. You remain responsible for the classes you lead.