Breathe Deep: An Illustrated Guide to the Transformative Power of Breathing

by Misha Maynerick Blaise

Take a deep breath and get lost in this illustrated guide to the transformative power of breathing combining inspiration, instruction, and amazing illustrations to create a one-of-a-kind book about the popular practice of breath work.

Breathing happens.

All day long you are sustained by the movement of air in and out of your lungs. Because it’s a natural function most people don’t give much thought to it. But when you consciously engage your breath, incredible things can happen.

Filled with vibrant art, meaningful quotes, practical exercises, and lighthearted humor, Breathe Deep stokes the curious mind and inspires a deeper relationship with the power of breath.

Drawing upon both ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science, Breathe Deep delves into the mechanics of respiration and the proven physical and emotional benefits of conscious breathing. As a bridge that unites body and mind, breath work is a powerful tool that can be used to calm anxiety and transform limiting mindsets.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Spirituality, Health

128 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Heather Coffee_Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book explores the mechanics of breathing and the benefits of doing it consciously, with easy to follow guides, to do it yourself without joining a class, whenever you need them.

Thanks to Adams Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small book is filled with information, affirmations, and practical breath exercises to help you make the most of your life. I highly recommend reading it aloud! ❤️

[Joy Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have such love for this book full of wonderful illustrations and facts on how to utilise your breath to increase your wellbeing. I can see it providing much comfort in times or stress and it certainly is pretty too. Would love to have it in physical form in the future.

[Dela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathe it out

This is a beautiful little book reminding us of the benefits of breathing. It’s a quick read that I would definitely recommend for adults for whom English is not their first language.

[Susie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read and certainly not deep but very fun to look at. I got some great breathing techniques out of it. Excited to put them into action.

[M Aghazarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction into important breathing techniques, also very affirming writing

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book illustration research and quick read.

About the vagus nerve:
"Vagus" means wandering.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The content is mind blowing!

The colourful pages, the eye popping illustrations, the attention seeking words! It all blends so well and we are learning something so useful and mindful that we tend to ignore. Yes, who would have thought breathing mindfully would be this important and effective?!

This book provides all the important basic practical tips on breathing tips for everyday life and its benefits. I am sold and I am going for it one day at a time.

It’s so much fun learning from a book like that which actually helps the readers of any age.

Thank you, Adams Media, for the advance reading copy.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The vital life force of breathing connects the body and mind and it can change the way we feel and react particularly in response to stress. By focusing on breathing, the potential to improve physical and mental health becomes possible.

I expected to love this book and use it as a tool to decrease stress and anxiety but if anything, I think I felt less relaxed after reading it. Most of the material seemed geared towards a younger audience as it provided an introductory look at breathing. It overly focused on anatomy as it talked about the lungs, brain and neural pathways. It felt very similar to reading a textbook. I wasn't a fan of the illustrations and I found the use of exclamation points throughout to be very unsettling.

The spiritual connection to the cosmos, the oneness of humanity and the interconnection with others was introduced but it directed the book away from the ways to utilize the breath towards positive changes. I liked the inclusion of different breathing exercises and I'm already familiar with several from yoga practice but these only touched the surface. I expected so much more. One of the things I did appreciate and enjoy was an illustration that showed a series of affirmations and I bookmarked that for future reference. I truly believe that engaging in these exercises and affirmations can calm the nervous system and positively affect the body and mind. Unfortunately, this focus seemed to get lost in the science.

Every person is on a unique individual journey so even though I was disappointed, others may have a more favorable experience. Perhaps this book would be better suited to readers looking to learn more about the physiology of breathing and how the breath connects us with the universe but I had hoped for more ideas to actively use the breath to reduce the negative impact of stress and to open up possibilities for calm and relaxation.

** Special thanks to Adams Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available May 2, 2023. **

[Gemini · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little book. More importantly, the words on the page w/ the illustrations make this worth checking out. I was able to read this in one sitting as it is pretty short, yet impactful. I totally appreciate that as sometimes too many words are unnecessary. Sometimes you don't realize how shallow you breathe in the regular. It's really bad as w/ most people looking down at their devices & slouching, the problems become worse. You can't really breathe properly if you're hunched over. Being able to read about some history of breathing as well as better ways to improve upon it, is going to be a life changer. There are also these beautiful illustrations that go with what's being suggested on each page that make this pretty impactful, who doesn't like illustrations while reading? So read this book, think about how you're breathing & make the effort to breathe better/properly. Your body will thank you for it.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad this book exists! With beautiful illustrations and concise text, this book is like a Cliff’s Notes on breath work for the masses.

While other breath-focused books lean in hard on the scientific or spiritual aspects of the breath, Breathe Deep delivers clear and practical information about the physical, mental, and emotional properties of breath along with instructions for several different (super simple!) breathing techniques to try.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a super accessible, effective, and down-to-earth guide to harnessing the full power of the breath.

Thank you to Adams Media and NetGalley for gifting me with an ARC to review. I loved it!

[Kostas Papakirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If you have breath, you have life.”

I am a big believer in the power of breathing. Always have been, always will be. This beautifully illustrated & simple book explores the nature of why proper breathing is so important for the body, mind & soul, and it also touches on great ways to improve breathing habits through various breathwork tutorials & tips. A must read for anyone looking to transform their way of breathing!

[V Massaglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geez! I love this book! The writing, the art, the flow...! Ahhhhh. The author presents the transformative aspects of the simplicity and complexity of breathing by combining science with spirituality. I love that she highlighted our connectedness and ability to "create a new world together."

I highly recommend this book. It makes for a great gift. Check our Misha Blaise's website: https://www.mishablaise.com/

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.

V

[Lisa Gisèle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own."

I started reading this book to distract myself for negative thoughts and anxiety. I can 100% the single nostril breathing works, although it did make me light headed.

This is a book that does not take itself too seriously and I like that. The images are beautiful and the positivity is contagious.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads Giveaway Win!

I had a lung transplant recently and have used plenty of breathing techniques. Post transplant breathing exercises are still recommended and wow this book was great. So many cool facts as well for example about nitric oxide… surprised by that one! Great graphics as well, keeps you interested.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I found it while browsing through other books about mindfulness and healthy living at the library, so I didn't know what to expect when I borrowed it. I'm glad I did, though!
It's a very quick read with a ton of awesome tips and interesting insights on breathing and how it connects us to the world around us.

[sya ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comforting read with an adorable and colorful art style on the different characteristics of breath, as well as advice for numerous breathing exercises.

Thank you to Adams Media and NetGalley for a digital copy.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Loved it! Engaging, colourful, informative, well designed, well researched - just easy to read. Much longer and in-depth than I anticipated!

"You inhale and exhale the cosmos" 🌌

Breathing is so underrated.

Free e-copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Paul]

This is a quick read due to the amount of visuals, which are colorful and nicely done. It felt like a children's book to me. I enjoyed the uplifting tone of the content.

Thanks very much for the free copy for review!!

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting and quick read. I loved most of the artwork through out and the way it was formatted made the book so easy to read and understand. I used some of the breathing techniques and while some are not necessarily for me, I will keep them in mind just in case.

[Mariann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic little book! Very practical and straightforward information on breathing techniques. I especially loved all the scientific information on how these techniques help blended with the techniques themselves.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the giveaway copy.

[Luna Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book that can be read over a weekend. Contains several breathing exercises to try out. I have done meditation on and off for years, so none of this is super new to me, but it is nice to have a refresher. The illustrations are fun and vibrant.

[Summer ReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful illustrations and the knowledge shared on breathing and breath work will prove invaluable on my health journey. Sooo happy to have found this recommendation by my local librarian at the local library!

[Al :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up at the library today—who knew there were so many different ways to breathe! I liked the interconnection of both science and spirituality in this book. Also the illustration were breathtaking (good thing the books about breathing lol)

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book with lots of information about how impactful a persons breath really is. A lot of helpful techniques for breathing meditation and relaxation as well. 10/10 recommended

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the art style and some of the segments but felt it was really repetitive.

[LL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. The illustrations are great and fun and wonderful. There are also some really useful bits of info in there. It's a great little book. I liked it a lot. This would be a lovely gift.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, amusingly illustrated, and a good overview of breathwork techniques. I didn’t learn anything new, but it helped to reinforce what I’ve already learned.

[Rosemary Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I have to say is everyone should own this book!!