Spring Cleaning, But Make It Breathwork

How a simple shift in your breathing can help reset your metabolism, energy, and stress levels

Can you feel it? That subtle shift in the air, the slightly longer daylight hours… spring is sneaking in, bringing with it that universal urge to refresh and reset and Marie Kondo the hell out of everything in sight.

If you're anything like me, this is when you start side-eyeing that overstuffed dresser, contemplating a new morning routine, or wondering why winter doesn’t come with a built-in “low power mode” warning.

But while we all know about spring cleaning our homes, what about a reset from the inside out?

I recently read a new book, Sleep Drink Breathe by Michael Breus, and he made a super-interesting point. On top of alllllll the other benefits of good breathing, it turns out your breath might also be the easiest, most overlooked tool for rebooting your body’s energy, metabolism, and even hunger signals.

Your Breath: The Metabolism Whisperer

Research shows that how you breathe can directly influence your metabolism, energy levels, and even how hungry you feel throughout the day.

🌀 Breath & Metabolism: A study found that people who practiced diaphragmatic breathing for just a few minutes showed an increase in their resting metabolic rate. Translation? Sitting and breathing deeply into your belly might be giving your metabolism a gentle reminder to get moving.

🥗 Breath & Hunger: Another study revealed that certain breathing techniques can shift stomach pH and reduce intestinal pressure—helping to regulate between-meal hunger pangs.

This isn’t about skipping lunch or playing the deprivation game. We all know that doesn’t work. (At least, not for me... If you tell me not to have chips, I’ll just eat the entire bag and feign ignorance/innocence.)

It’s about tuning in to your body’s real signals—rather than responding to stress, habit, or the simple fact that snacks are within arm’s reach.

How It Actually Works (Without Getting Too Science-y)

The beauty of breathwork is that it’s insanely simple yet incredibly effective. When you breathe deeply and intentionally:

✅ You increase oxygen uptake, which can support your metabolism.
✅ You activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping your body regulate digestion and appetite. (There’s a reason it’s called “rest and digest” mode 💡 )
✅ You influence hormones like leptin, which signals fullness—making it easier to hear when your body’s had enough.

That last part? A game-changer if you’ve spent years ignoring your body’s "I’m full" signals thanks to working lunches, stress snacking, or just being too busy to think about it.

A Quick Spring Reset: Modified Quigong Breathing

Want to try a breath technique that may help with between-meal cravings, digestion, and energy? Here’s one that takes less than a minute.

Modified Qigong Breathing

1️⃣ Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
2️⃣ Put your hands on your torso just below your ribcage as a cue to keep your breath higher in your chest.
3️⃣ Keep your shoulders square and pull your belly in as you inhale into the chest. If your breath reaches your hands, you’ve gone too far.
4️⃣ Hold for a moment, then exhale, relaxing your upper body but keeping your core engaged the entire time.
5️⃣Try it for 10 breaths.

This isn’t about suppressing hunger—it’s about helping your body differentiate between actual hunger and stress, boredom, or habit.The idea here is a subtle shift—a moment of awareness and a check-in with your body before reacting to cravings or low energy.

Your Breath, Your Superpower

What I dig about this research isn’t weight, metabolism, or even energy levels—it’s the reminder that our breath is directly linked to every system in our body.

As we step into the season of renewal, let’s reframe “spring cleaning” as more than just closets and countertops. Maybe the real magic is in clearing the static between your conscious mind and your body’s natural wisdom.

And if you’re curious about Modified Quigong, try adding it to your routine for a week.

✨ Use it before meals or snacks to check in with hunger.
✨ Try it when you need an energy boost.
✨ Think of it as a game. Are you able to keep your abs tight the whole time? Did you stay above the line (your hands)?

Just like the other breathwork techniques I bring you, this one takes zero equipment, minimal time, and can be done anytime, anywhere (like between meetings, before meals, or, perhaps hiding in the bathroom from your family).

If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how it goes! Drop a comment or hit reply—did you notice a shift? More clarity? Fewer snack cravings? Let me know how this was for you.

And if you’re curious about making breathwork a seamless, effortless part of your life—grab my FREE “5 Breaths in 5 Minutes” kit. I’ll also send you my newsletter every week, which has lots more content in it.

Last Gasp

"Never eat more than you can lift." – Miss Piggy