The Healing Power of Breathwork: Calming the Nervous System for Mind-Body-Soul Health
by Dr. Kohar Jones, MD
Why the Nervous System Matters
At Evolve Integrative Medicine, my goal is to support total health — mind, body, and soul. At the center of that work is the nervous system: the exquisite network of signals and responses that mediates how we experience the world.
Our daily lives are shaped not just by what’s inside us, but by everything around us. The meals we eat, the stress of looming deadlines, the joy of a hug, and the quality of our sleep each leave an imprint on our minds and bodies through the nervous system, shaping how safe, connected, and whole we feel.
Yoga and the Breath
Yoga offers powerful tools for mind-body wellness: movement, awareness, intention-setting, and especially breathwork.
The breath is where the conscious and subconscious meet. We breathe whether or not we think about it, and the quality of our breath reflects our inner state. Shallow when stressed or angry. Slow and steady when calm.
“Our breath is the embodiment of our emotions. It shifts with every demand and it can also guide us back to balance.”
The Science and Magic of Breathwork
Breathing is unique because it belongs to both worlds:
Subconscious: Our breath automatically responds to physical and emotional demands.
Conscious: We can intentionally slow and deepen it, sending a direct message of safety to the nervous system.
This dual role makes breathwork the most immediate and accessible way to calm body, mind, and soul. With every intentional breath, we have the power to regulate our nervous system and reshape how we experience the world.
Breathwork in Everyday Life
Our culture already holds fragments of this wisdom. We teach children to “take a deep breath and count to ten” when angry. We take a steadying breath before facing fear.
Yoga deepens this practice. Linking breath with movement, teaching diaphragmatic breathing, and dedicating time to breath exercises creates resilience long before we hit overwhelm. Breathwork builds a baseline of calm from which we can meet life’s challenges with clarity.
An Invitation to Practice
The gift of breathwork is that it is always with you. Like riding a bike, it becomes second nature with practice, and once you learn it, you can return to it anytime, anywhere.
Here are a few places to practice:
🌿 At Tejas Yoga:
✨ With Evolve Integrative Medicine:
For patients in the Chicago area, I offer a new model of care that integrates evidence-based medicine with ancient healing practices. If you are ready to approach your health differently, obtaining personalized holistic primary care with attention to your mind, body, and soul, I invite you to get in touch.
About the Author
Dr. Kohar Jones, MD is a family physician and founder of Evolve Integrative Medicine. She provides comprehensive primary care blending modern medicine with yoga and breathwork, in a holistic mind-body medicine approach that helps patients restore balance and thrive within the total context of their lives. ✨ Get in touch with Dr. Kohar Jones