Diaphragmatic Breathing: An Ancient Skill Made Practical with VR

When Anna first came to therapy, she described her panic as if “her body was betraying her.” A fear of flying left her chest tight, her breath shallow, and her mind racing. No amount of reassurance could override what her body was doing.

What changed things wasn’t a new piece of information. It was learning how to breathe differently. Not just any breathing, but the kind of deep, slow diaphragmatic breathing found in yoga, meditation, martial arts, and countless traditional practices around the world.

For thousands of years, humans have known that the way we breathe changes how we feel. From Buddhist monks practicing mindful breathing, to athletes centering themselves before competition, to singers and wind-instrument musicians expanding their diaphragms—this is not a new discovery. But modern science now explains why it works so well: diaphragmatic breathing calms the sympathetic nervous system and restores balance.

More Than Relaxation

Clinicians often think of breathing as a relaxation tool — and it is — but it’s also more than that. Teaching clients diaphragmatic breathing isn’t just about “feeling calmer.” It’s about giving them a way to regain control over runaway physiological symptoms that can otherwise fuel panic.

Studies have shown measurable benefits: Chen et al. (2017) found that diaphragmatic breathing improves attention and reduces anxiety; Ma et al. (2017) showed it lowers cortisol, our primary stress hormone. But what makes it truly powerful is its accessibility: no equipment, no cost, just the body’s own rhythm.

And when clients like Anna practice it consistently, they discover that they can stay with exposures longer, ride out discomfort, and build confidence in situations that once felt unbearable.

The Problem of Remembering

The challenge? Clients rarely remember to use it when they need it most. When they’re mid-panic, the idea of “taking a slow belly breath” often flies out the window.

That’s why practice matters — and why VR can be a bridge.

Bringing Ancient Skills into Modern Practice

At oVRcome, we’ve integrated guided diaphragmatic breathing into our VR programmes. Clients can step into immersive calming environments while a calm voice guides them through the practice.

For clinicians, this means:

• It becomes part of treatment, not an afterthought. You can prescribe breathing practice alongside exposures.

• It builds consistency. Clients can rehearse at home as homework, so when anxiety hits, the skill is second nature.

• It integrates body and mind. Clients don’t just face their fears cognitively — they learn to regulate the physical symptoms that keep fear alive.

  
  

It’s a modern way of delivering something ancient, with the consistency and reinforcement that therapy often lacks between sessions.

Why It Sticks

When clients practice breathing in VR, they’re not staring at a blank wall or trying to meditate in a busy household. They’re transported into a space that invites focus and calm. The immersive nature of VR helps bypass distraction and anchor the experience — making it more likely to be remembered and applied later.

And as clinicians, you know that the more a client feels a technique working, the more buy-in you get.

Final Thoughts

Diaphragmatic breathing has stood the test of time across cultures because it works. Now, with VR, clinicians can ensure clients don’t just learn it once — they integrate it, practice it, and carry it with them into exposures and daily life.

As Anna put it after a few weeks of practice: “For the first time, I didn’t feel like my body was against me. I could breathe through it — and that made all the difference.