Top 5 Lessons from Jesse Coomer’s Breathwork Books

I never set out to become a breathwork coach. It started with a lot of stress, some sleepless nights, and a curiosity about why something as simple as breathing could shift how I felt in just a few minutes. Over time, that curiosity became a daily practice, then a passion, and eventually a life’s work. If you’ve ever flipped through either of my books, A Practical Guide to Breathwork or The Language of Breath, you know I’m not interested in hype. I want breathwork to be accessible, practical, and grounded in real results.

Here are five of the biggest lessons I’ve learned and shared through my books. Not from theory, but from real people, real practice, and real outcomes.

1. Breath Is a Language—You Just Need to Learn to Listen

Most of us grow up thinking of breathing as background noise. Something our body does on autopilot. But once you start paying attention, you realize your breath is telling you a lot. It speeds up when you’re anxious. It shortens when you’re angry. It holds when you’re scared.

In The Language of Breath, I talk about learning to understand this language, not just using breath to change how you feel, but also listening to what it’s trying to say. This is where the “Listening Exercise” comes in. It’s one of the few practices I’ve found that lets you enter an altered state while staying fully grounded. No hyperventilation. No nervous system whiplash. Just presence.

2. You Can Test and Train CO₂ Tolerance—And It Changes Everything

One of the most underrated ideas in breath training is carbon dioxide tolerance. In A Practical Guide to Breathwork, I walk through a simple self-test you can use to gauge your tolerance to rising CO₂ levels. Most people think breathwork is about oxygen. But your body’s ability to use oxygen depends on CO₂.

Training your CO₂ tolerance improves how you deliver oxygen to your muscles, your brain, and your heart. It also makes your system less reactive to stress. This isn’t just for athletes. It’s for anyone who wants to feel less on edge, sleep better, or think more clearly.

3. Different Goals Need Different Breathing Styles

There’s no such thing as the perfect breathwork routine. That’s why I teach people how to choose the right practice for the right moment. If you’re feeling foggy, there’s a breath for that. If you’re wired before bed, there’s a breath for that too.

One client of mine was struggling with energy crashes mid-afternoon. We added a short protocol that involved just five minutes of low-intensity breath holds. After a week, her crashes dropped. After a month, they were gone. Breath is a tool. The key is knowing how to match the tool to the task.

4. The Best Breathwork Practice Is the One You Actually Do

People ask me all the time, “What’s the best breathwork method?” And my answer is always the same: the one you’ll come back to.

In both books, I emphasize sustainable routines over dramatic one-offs. A few minutes a day of intentional breathing will take you farther than a long, complex session once a month. Build it into your life. Tie it to your morning coffee or your wind-down before bed. Keep it simple. Keep it consistent.

5. Integration Is Where the Magic Happens

Breathwork isn’t just about what happens during a session. It’s what you do after that that shapes the long-term impact. Whether you’ve had a big emotional release or just a subtle shift in energy, give yourself time to process. Journal. Move slowly. Let your system adjust.

One of my students once told me, “I didn’t feel anything dramatic during the practice, but two days later I made a decision I’d been avoiding for years.” That’s the power of integration. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s loud. But it always matters.

Why I Keep Teaching This Work

I didn’t write these books to build a brand or sound smart. I wrote them because I’ve seen what happens when someone reconnects with their breath. They remember their power. They stop fighting themselves. They get back in touch with something steady and true.

And the best part? You don’t need fancy gear or a guru. Just your body, your breath, and a willingness to try.

If you’ve read my books, thank you. If you’re just starting out, I invite you to explore this work with me. Join a guided session. Try a CO₂ tolerance test. Play with the Listening Exercise. Make it yours.

FAQs

Can I use these techniques if I’m new to breathwork?

Absolutely. Start slow, be consistent, and keep an open mind. Your breath knows the way.

What if I have a health condition?

Talk to your doctor first. Breathwork is powerful, and certain conditions may require special guidance.

Where should I begin?

Pick a goal, calming down, waking up, improving focus, and try a routine built for that purpose. You can find free and guided options in The Breath Club or on my site.

If these lessons resonate with you, I’d love to practice together. You can find courses, certifications, and guided sessions at jessecoomer.com. Let’s breathe with purpose, not pressure. Let’s listen, not perform. Let’s keep showing up, for our bodies, for our breath, and for each other.