Originally published July 2019. Updated August 2026 for clarity and current safety guidance.

Breathing is often misunderstood in sports training, which is odd given it’s something universal to all athletes. Everyone wants to maximise their oxygen uptake, but despite what many people think, funnelling larger volumes of air via our mouth is not the way to do it.

If you’re feeling breathless or wheezy, either during or after exercise, then you may be experiencing exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), where your upper airways tighten and restrict airflow. You may be told it’s due to fitness, but if you disagree, it’s worth checking if the way you’re breathing is a factor.

Ineffective breathing affects around 1 in 10 of the general population, but is higher amongst athletes and those suffering from asthma or anxiety. The incidence of EIB in athletes ranges from 10–50%, depending on the sport and intensity. At the Athens Olympics, 21% of the UK team displayed asthma symptoms.

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Originally published 2018 · Written by Advanced Yoga Sports Coach, Bonnie Strati

Editor's Note | Revisiting Breath Awareness in Tennis

When Bonnie Strati wrote this article in 2018, she was exploring how yoga breathing practices might help tennis players become more aware of their breathing, both during training and between points on the court.

Breathing remains an essential area of study in sports science, particularly in relation to physiological regulation, attention and individual responses to exercise.

We've revisited Bonnie's article to clarify some of the scientific explanations and refine the practical instructions, while preserving her original teaching ideas and conversational style.

We've all been breathing since the moment we were born.

We take our first breath when we arrive in the world, and our breathing continues throughout our lives, usually without us giving it much thought.

An adult takes thousands of breaths every day, with the number changing according t...