“Perhaps the deeper lesson is not about controlling the body, breath or mind individually, but learning to listen to all three. When combined with supportive communities and healthier environments, these practices may contribute to a more preventative and person-centred approach to wellbeing—one that recognises that health is shaped not only by individual choices, but also by the environments and communities in which people live.”
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We have been working with Jenny Evans, a pilates and neuropathology practitioner for over a year. The work arose when a community approached our lab with a need for elderly health support, specifically focusing on mobility. Many people in this small village in South Wales worked physically demanding jobs; mining, grounds keeping, farming, vegetable picking, mail delivery, and housekeeping. Now in their 70s and 80s their bodies are seeing the consequences of a life of physical labour with many having joint problems which affects their mobility and their mental health.
Jenny, for over a year has provided an array of support on breath, mind, and physiology. As Centric enters a new era of research, which focuses on understanding the physiology of healing through the gut brain axis, we are interested in exploring all forms of healing.
In this essay, Jenny explains the relationship between breath, mind, and body. She points out how understanding this relationship is key to bringing balance and respite to stressed bodies as well as addressing the structural inequities that rob us from our breath.
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A Welsh miner, who through air pollution exposure and long arduous physical labour can no longer take a deep breath, what does that mean for their health? What does that mean for worker rights? In the case of mining, not only is it a health hazard to workers, it also damages vast ecosystems, leaving communities (human and more-than-human) exposed to prolonged toxins. Finally, should economic systems have morality embedded into them?
Body, Breath & Mind
“You have been formed of three parts—body, breath and mind. Of these, the first two are yours insofar as they are only in your care. The third alone is truly yours. The mind is all yours.”
—Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius’ observation provides a useful philosophical starting point for considering the relationship between body, breath and mind. The body is vulnerable to illness, injury and circumstances beyond our control.
The breath, although essential to life, can also be altered by exertion, illness, environmental conditions or emotional states. The mind, however, represents our capacity for awareness, interpretation and response.
This does not mean that the body and breath are less important. Rather, it suggests that our relationship with them can be influenced through awareness and practice. Understanding this relationship provides a framework for considering how physiological, psychological and environmental factors interact.
Breathing is particularly significant because respiration is both automatic and, to a degree, voluntarily controllable. This makes it an important interface between physiological and psychological processes. Breathing patterns change in response to emotional states: anxiety, fear and anger can be accompanied by faster or more irregular breathing, while deliberate slower breathing can be used as a practical strategy to support relaxation and emotional regulation.
Research increasingly supports the use of controlled breathing as a complementary approach to managing stress and anxiety. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials found that breath-work was associated with small-to-moderate reductions in subjective stress, with similar effects observed for anxiety and depressive symptoms, although the researchers emphasised the need for higher-quality studies. A further systematic review of breathing interventions found evidence of improvements in anxiety and stress across a number of studies, while also highlighting limitations in the current evidence base.
The relationship between body, breath and mind
The relationship between these three systems is dynamic rather than linear. The body influences breathing through posture, muscular tension, movement, heart rate and physical exertion. Changes in these physiological states can subsequently influence how we feel and perceive our surroundings.
The mind influences breathing through thoughts, emotions, attention and perceived threat. When overwhelmed or anxious, breathing may become faster or shallower. Conversely, intentionally bringing attention to the breath can provide a point of focus and may support a reduction in perceived stress.
The breath therefore functions as a bridge between physiological and psychological experience. It provides one accessible method through which an individual can deliberately influence their state of arousal.
This relationship becomes particularly relevant when considering the environment in which people live.
Environment, stress and physiological health
Our physical environment can influence both psychological wellbeing and physiological health. Environmental noise, air pollution, overcrowding and poor-quality housing are not simply inconveniences; they can constitute significant public-health concerns.
The World Health Organisation identifies environmental noise as being associated with sleep disturbance, stress, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular effects and impacts on mental health and wellbeing. In urban environments, continual exposure to traffic and other sources of noise can contribute to chronic stress and interfere with restorative sleep.
Air pollution presents another important environmental challenge. Pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone can affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Fine particulate matter can penetrate deeply into the lungs and is associated with significant respiratory and cardiovascular health risks.
These environmental exposures also illustrate an important limitation of an individualised approach to wellbeing. Breathing exercises, meditation and movement may provide people with tools to manage stress and develop greater self-awareness, but they cannot remove pollutants from the air or eliminate excessive environmental noise. Those problems also require action at community, infrastructure and policy levels.
The importance of community
This is where community can become an important part of a broader approach to health and wellbeing. Creating accessible environments where people can move, learn, connect and develop self-regulation skills may provide an additional layer of support, particularly for people experiencing chronic environmental or social stress.
There is growing evidence that social connection is relevant to public health, with social support, participation and connectedness associated with physical and psychological wellbeing. Research into community- based interventions has also identified potential benefits across physical health, psychological wellbeing and social connection, although outcomes vary between interventions and populations.
A Pilates studio based in Monmouthshire, Wales, provides an example of this community-centred approach. Its work incorporates movement, rehabilitation, breath-work, meditation, workshops, conversation and neighbourly support. The intention is not simply to provide exercise, but to create an environment in which individuals can develop greater body awareness, learn practical self-regulation strategies and experience connection with others.
Classes begin with an opportunity to arrive, settle and connect. Participants may share physical or emotional challenges, celebrate achievements or simply spend time together before movement begins. During the physical practice, teachers use verbal and tactile cues to develop awareness of posture, movement, breathing and muscular engagement. The emphasis is on intentional movement rather than simply completing an exercise.
The session concludes with breath-work and guided meditation, providing an opportunity to transition from movement into stillness. Participants can then take these techniques beyond the studio and apply them within everyday life.
The value of such an environment may therefore extend beyond physical exercise. It can provide education, social connection and opportunities to practise self-regulation in a supportive setting. Importantly, this should be viewed as complementary to, rather than a replacement for, appropriate medical and mental-health care.
Conclusion
The relationship between body, breath and mind is a continuous interaction. Our environment can influence our physiological and psychological state; our psychological state can influence our breathing; and our breathing can provide a practical means of influencing how we respond to stress.
Learning to work with the breath does not mean that we can control everything around us. Instead, it may provide one small but meaningful area of agency. Through movement, breath-work, meditation and connection with others, individuals can develop greater awareness of their own responses and potentially strengthen their capacity to navigate challenging circumstances.
Perhaps the deeper lesson is not about controlling the body, breath or mind individually, but learning to listen to all three. When combined with supportive communities and healthier environments, these practices may contribute to a more preventative and person-centred approach to wellbeing—one that recognises that health is shaped not only by individual choices, but also by the environments and communities in which people live.
By Jenny Evans Rees