“You’ve got to breathe.”

(Yeah, not exactly earth-shattering advice, right? 😂)

But stick with me—because while you need oxygen for basic body and brain function (hello, biology), how you breathe and how you use your breath needs to be a core part of your trial strategy.

In the courtroom, your breath isn’t just keeping you alive—it’s shaping how jurors perceive you and how much power your voice carries.

The Two Main Types of Breathing

Let’s keep it simple: there are two main styles of breathing you need to understand.

🔹 Shallow Breathing

1. High in the chest and neck

2. Quick, light inhales and exhales

🔹 Deep Breathing

1. Low in the abdomen

2. Slow, steady, full inhales and exhales

Now, don’t get me wrong—shallow breathing has its place.

⚡ Urgent moments in storytelling

⚡ Moments of high emotional intensity

In those brief moments, shallow breathing can actually add drama and urgency to your delivery.

But if you’re breathing shallowly during regular presentation mode—during your openings, your directs, your crosses—you’re hurting your own case.

How Shallow Breathing Sabotages You in Trial

Here’s what shallow breathing does (and none of it’s good):

⚡ Keeps you stuck in fight-or-flight mode, making you look and sound more nervous.

⚡ Weakens your voice, causing it to lose power, projection, and authority.

⚡ Shrinks your physical presence, making you seem less commanding.

⚡ Magnifies your nervous energy, which jurors can feel—and mirror.

Yes, that’s right: jurors mirror your breathing patterns.

If you stay stuck in shallow, frantic breathing, they will too.

And if jurors are in fight-or-flight mode, they’re going to have a much harder time receiving, processing, and trusting your message.

Bad news for your case.

How to Train for Deep, Strategic Breathing

The good news?

✅ You can train yourself to breathe more deeply and strategically—just like any other courtroom skill.

Here’s where to start:

✅ Activate Your Abdomen

Place a hand lightly on your stomach when you practice. Breathe in through your nose and feel your hand rise. Exhale and feel it lower.

This is called diaphragmatic breathing—and it’s the foundation of a strong courtroom voice.

✅ Get Your Brain Involved

Be intentional. Notice when your breathing creeps up into your chest and gently redirect it downward. Awareness is the first step toward mastery.

✅ Practice Until It’s Natural

The goal isn’t to “think about breathing” forever.

It’s to train your body so deep breathing becomes your default mode—especially under pressure.

Why Deep Breathing Is a Courtroom Superpower

Deep breathing:

1. Steadies your nerves

2. Expands your physical presence

3. Strengthens your voice

4. Keeps jurors in a calm, receptive state

5. Establishes your authority—without you having to force it

Because when you breathe with intention, you foster more than just oxygen flow.

You foster your presence.

You foster your credibility.

And ultimately—you foster your voice. 🎯