Breathing Exercises is an independent UK guide to breathing techniques. We read the research and NHS guidance, teach each exercise step by step, grade every health claim by the strength of its evidence and explain it in plain English. We sell nothing, run no adverts or affiliate links, and take no money from app, device or wellness companies.
On this page
Why does this site exist?
Breathing exercises are one of the few things that are free, safe for almost everyone and genuinely helpful for stress, blood pressure and lung conditions. But most of what you find online is either too vague to follow or wrapped in claims the research doesn’t support, often from people selling a course, an app or a device.
We set out to do two things properly. First, to teach each exercise clearly enough that you can do it correctly on your own, with steps, a breathe-along guide and a sheet you can print. Second, to say honestly how strong the evidence is for each one, using a published grading method and linking to every source.
Who writes it?
The site is written and edited by Nell Avery, the pen name of its editor. Nell isn’t a doctor or physiotherapist, which is why every claim is tied to its source and graded openly. We would like a registered respiratory physiotherapist to review the health pages; when one does, their name and registration will appear on every page they check.
Who is it for?
Anyone who wants to learn a breathing exercise properly, and especially people living with asthma, COPD, long COVID or anxiety. We also want it to be a resource that GPs, nurses and physiotherapists are comfortable pointing patients to. See for health professionals.
How is it paid for?
By its owner. There are no adverts, sponsors or affiliate links, and nothing for sale. If that ever changes, we will say so clearly on every page it affects, and it will not change what we say about the evidence.
What do we cover?
Five areas: the exercises, what they can help with, lung conditions, how breathing works and safety. The rules we follow are in our editorial policy.
How can you get in touch?
Email hello@breathingexercises.uk or see contact and corrections.
In this section
- Editorial policy: how Breathing Exercises researches every page
The sources Breathing Exercises relies on, how we grade evidence, how we write the exercise steps, how we use AI tools and how we fix mistakes.
- How Breathing Exercises grades the evidence
The four evidence grades used on Breathing Exercises, from strong to no good evidence, what each means for breathing research and how we choose one.
- Who writes Breathing Exercises
The people behind Breathing Exercises: who researches, writes and edits the site, and who will review its health pages.
- For health professionals: patient handouts and how we write
Free one-page breathing exercise handouts for patients, the sources and evidence grades behind them, and how we write, check and update every page.
First published 4 November 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll correct it. Read our editorial policy.