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Glossary

Clear definitions for breathwork terms including BOLT score, coherent breathing, CO2 tolerance, diaphragm and vagus nerve.

Apnea

A temporary pause in breathing. In wellness breathwork this usually means an intentional hold, not sleep apnea.

Body Oxygen Level Test. A comfortable breath-hold baseline after a normal exhale.

A four-part rhythm: inhale, hold, exhale, hold. Often practiced as 4-4-4-4.

How comfortably the body tolerates carbon dioxide before the urge to breathe rises.

A smooth rhythm near six breaths per minute, commonly 5 seconds in and 5 seconds out.

The main breathing muscle below the lungs. It moves down on inhale and relaxes upward on exhale.

Breathing that lets the lower ribs and abdomen move instead of lifting the shoulders.

Variation in time between heartbeats. Slow breathing is often used in HRV-friendly routines.

Breathing more than the body needs, often linked with anxiety, tingling or lightheadedness.

A calming pattern where the exhale lasts longer than the inhale.

Breathing through the nose, which filters, warms and slows incoming air.

Exhaling through gently narrowed lips to slow the breath.

A major nerve involved in rest-and-digest regulation and body-brain communication.