Functional breathing

A broad approach aimed at efficient everyday breathing, commonly emphasizing nasal, diaphragmatic, quiet, and appropriately paced breathing rather than intense altered-state work. The goal is that breathing matches what the body actually needs at rest, during sleep and in exercise. Typical exercises include nasal breathing, gently slowing the breath and relaxed breathing into the lower ribs. It is often taught by breathing coaches and respiratory physiotherapists, for example for breathlessness, sleep or sport performance. Signs of dysfunctional breathing can include frequent sighing, habitual mouth breathing, breathing high in the chest and feeling short of breath without a medical cause. Questionnaires such as the Nijmegen Questionnaire are sometimes used to screen for symptoms of breathing pattern disorders.