Breathing Exercises - Details You Ought To Be Aware Of

Breathing is such a part of us that we take it for granted

. Living and breathing are two synonymous things that we cannot imagine one without the other. What most of us fail to consider, however, is the fact that how we breathe affects our quality of life. Consider this: Poor breathing habits reduce our oxygen blood levels by as much as 20%! This leads to fatigue, mental fogginess, physical sluggishness and even heart disease. Sometimes, all it takes is just a change in our breathing habits to soothe tense muscles and aid in the prevention or healing of stress-related health concerns.

But can you control your breathing process? Yes! The more appropriate way to describe this is that it is possible to train ourselves to breathe properly. This is one of the most beneficial things we can do to positively impact our emotional and physical health.

Most of the time, we breathe through our chest. This is an inefficient method of breathing inasmuch as it leads to poor oxygen supply to the blood and tissues. For better health, we should be practicing abdominal breathing. To learn breathing this way, begin by placing one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Observe your hands closely such that when you inhale, the hand resting on your abdomen should rise higher than the one on your chest. This movement tells you that the diaphragm is pulling air into the bases of the lungs. After you've exhaled through the mouth, breath in slowly through your nose, imagining that you are sucking in all the air in the room. Hold it for 7 counts. Then, slowly breathe out through your mouth for 8 counts, gently contracting your abdominal muscles so you can completely empty the remaining air from your lungs. Do this four more times for a total of 5 deep breaths. Abdominal breathing is one of the easiest but most important breathing exercises to practice everyday. With time, it becomes more natural and will have a positive impact on your cardiac and overall health.

If you are in need of quick energy, you can do the Stimulating Breath. Also known as the Bellows Breath, this kind of breathing increases alertness and may be used upon waking up in the morning or when you are in need of a quick energy boost. Do this by inhaling and exhaling rapidly through your nose. Your mouth should be closed but relaxed for this breathing exercise. Keep your breaths equal in duration, but as short as possible. Aim for three in-and-out breath cycles per second, producing a quick movement of your diaphragm as you do so. Breathe normally after each cycle. When you first do the Bellows Breath, keep it at 15 seconds or less. Increase your time by five seconds until you reach a full minute every time you do this exercise. You know you've done this properly because you feel invigorated afterwards, similar to the feeling you get after a good workout.

How we breathe can have a direct influence on our body systems. When we practice proper breathing techniques, we greatly reduce stress and increase our energy levels. In short, breathing correctly improves our state of health.

by: Maegan Pillar

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