MOHIVATE
Hosted by Dr. Mohi Sarawgee, a GP, MOHIvate is your doctor’s dose of heart and science — with just a touch of humour — because health and feeling good shouldn’t feel complicated. Each episode breaks down medicine and everyday science in a simple, thoughtful way, serving as a reminder that real health can still feel human. I hope you enjoy listening, learning, and carrying a little feel-good factor with you. Thank you for tuning in!
Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. It is not intended to be, and should not be taken as, personal medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your own doctor or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions about your health, and never ignore or delay professional medical advice because of something you’ve heard here. The views expressed are my own and do not represent the views of any organizations or institutions I’m affiliated with.
MOHIVATE
24. The Language of Breath | Learning to Listen to Your Body
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode of Mohivate, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores the science of breathing and why something so automatic can reveal how the body is functioning.
We breathe roughly twenty thousand times a day, yet most of us rarely pause to notice it. This episode explores how breathing sits at a unique intersection between physiology and awareness, reflecting the state of the nervous system, stress responses, and recovery.
Drawing on physiology alongside traditional observational practices such as Swara Yoga, this conversation explains how breathing patterns, the nasal cycle, and autonomic regulation interact. Long before modern physiology described the shifting airflow between nostrils, traditional systems had already recognised this natural rhythm through careful observation of breath.
Set within the wider conversation on metabolic health, the episode explores how breath connects oxygen delivery, cellular energy, and nervous system balance. By learning to notice the body’s signals through breathing, listeners are introduced to one of the simplest ways to understand how the body regulates stress, recovery, and internal balance.
References:
1. Russo MA, Santarelli DM, O’Rourke D. The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human.European Respiratory Society Journal Breathe
https://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/13/4/298
2. Lehrer P, Gevirtz R. Heart rate variability biofeedback and regulation of autonomic function.Frontiers in Psychology
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00756/full
3. Telles S, Singh N, Balkrishna A. Physiological effects of yogic breathing practices.International Journal of Yoga
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6137615/
4. Eccles R. The nasal cycle in health and disease.Clinical Otolaryngology
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-4486.2000.tb00239.x
5. Jerath R, Beveridge C, Barnes V, Jerath V.Physiology of long pranayamic breathing: neural respiratory elements may provide a mechanism that explains how slow deep breathing shifts the autonomic nervous system. Medical Hypotheses.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21782306/
6. Vidigal-Lopes M, et al.Respiratory modulation of cardiovascular control.The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(18)30403-9/fulltext
Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.