Meditation for Asthma: Breathing Techniques & Tips

For asthma sufferers, breathing can feel like a constant challenge. Meditation offers a powerful way to reframe your relationship with your breath—turning anxiety into awareness.

Why Breathing Meditation Helps Asthma Patients

People with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD often:
- Develop anxiety around breathing
- Associate breath with past emergencies
- Experience fear during shortness of breath

Mindfulness meditation helps by:
✔️ Creating space between sensations and reactions
✔️ Reducing stress that can trigger symptoms
✔️ Building confidence in your body's abilities

3-Step Breathing Meditation for Asthma

1. Find a Comfortable Position

   • Sit upright with good posture
   • Place one hand on your chest if helpful

2. Observe Without Judgment

   • Notice each breath as it comes
   • Accept shallow breaths without forcing
   • Label thoughts ('worry', 'memory') and let them pass

3. Expand Awareness Gradually

   • Start with 2-3 minute sessions
   • Slowly increase duration as comfort grows
   • Celebrate every mindful breath as progress

Overcoming Common Challenges

"Focusing on breathing triggers anxiety"
- Try alternate focuses: sounds or body sensations
- Use calming mantras ('This breath sustains me')

"My breathing feels too irregular"
- Remember: Meditation accepts what is
- Irregular breathing is still valid meditation

The Mindful Perspective

As published in Mindful magazine (August 2018), the key insight is:

"We can choose to be present with each breath—however imperfect—or resist the experience. Mindfulness gives us that choice."

With practice, meditation can transform your relationship with breathing from a source of stress to an anchor of stability.