Is breathwork safe?

Slow, gentle, exhale-focused breathing is safe for most people. The real risks sit with breath retention and hyperventilation. Never practise either in or near water, since hyperventilating before a breath-hold can cause loss of consciousness underwater without warning. Practise intense methods sitting or lying down. Lightheadedness and tingling are common and usually resolve by returning to normal breathing. Around one in ten participants in the Stanford trial reported a negative experience with the exercises, so disliking a technique is unremarkable.