Reviewed by Clare Brook
Rory Warnock is an industry-leading performance and wellness coach, ultramarathon runner and keynote speaker. He specialises in breathwork and nervous system regulation to help improve mental and physical health so optimising wellbeing and performance. His latest book, Unlock Your Breath, highlights that many of us are not breathing to enhance health. Rory Warnock is thorough in his presentation of the history of breathwork and the evidence-based research currently being conducted. Warnock draws a comparison between nutrition and breathing. Most of us realise we are not always eating for optimal health and apparently the same applies to breathing. This book is about functional technique. There is a risk of injury if exercise is performed poorly in the gym, or any sporting endeavour, and so it is with breathing, even when asleep.
A sentence that gave pause is: Breath is a bridge between brain and body. Warnock discusses the nervous system and explains how the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) work. He explains why the 4:6 method is so effective in regulating and build the brain body bridge. Warnock prefers this method for sleep and calming a racing mind. Utilising the breath to shift from one state to another by tapping into the natural biological processes. Combatting stress is a big part of Warnock’s techniques.
Warnock discusses how CO2 (carbon dioxide) and oxygen work together, and how CO2 plays a crucial role in maintaining blood pH and ensuring efficient oxygen delivery, and the connection with nose breathing.
All the techniques for stress management, sleep quality, fitness recovery, and focus are evidenced based. It is good to remember this because, whereas the exercises are well explained and easy to accomplish, there is a challenge for those who occasionally or constantly mouth breathe. Warnock makes clear this is bad practice. The challenging aspect of his advice is that he recommends mouth tape and if necessary expanders to wear on the bridge of the nose to enhance the inhaling process. And, to prove this is tolerable, he writes that in 2024 he ran the Sydney Marathon with his mouth taped! Best to remember that he is an athlete having completed numerous single- and multi-day ultramarathons, including Ultra-Trail Australia (22 km, 50 km and 100 km), the Atacama Crossing in Chile (250 km) and the BTU Mountain Ultra in Kyrgyzstan (200 km). Impressive.
This is a book that should be read and put into practise. Warnock has provided techniques that aid healing, relieves stress and anxiety, citing research that proves that correct breathing is proven to build up your immune system and help reduce inflammation. It is written in a clear, simple and engaging style and the techniques are varied according to need.
Highly Recommended
by Rory Warnock
Pan Macmillan Australia
Paperback
ISBN: 978 1 7615 6150 4
$36.99; 288pp