Many people are unaware of how much their poor breathing patterns
can negatively influence their lives and their health.
Poor breathing can contribute to a host of problems, including high
blood pressure, asthma, emphysema, anxiety and panic attacks,
depression, weight gain, and even heart disease.
If you have been treated (or are being treated) for any of the
above conditions, you probably did not hear much about breathing,
or receive instruction on how to breathe, from your doctor.
In my own case, including overcoming a moderate to severe case of
asthma — as well as for other people I have worked with or spoken
to — the addition of healthy breathing practice actually
accelerates the results of conventional treatment programs and
medicines.
And it can help you reduce the dosage of, or even eliminate, your
medications – which is very important, given the sometimes serious
side effects of many modern medicines.
To incorporate better breathing into your own life, keep in mind
that it’s not just about taking a few deep breaths once in awhile.
Yes, breathing more deeply than you typically do now is very
beneficial. But taking in huge gulps of air, straining to fill
your abdomen and hold the air in, and pushing the air out with
force is not the best way to begin.
There are breathing exercises and techniques that do involve
tension, holding and contracting. But you don’t need to jump to
these right away. First, lay the foundation for good breathing
“hygiene” and control.
The easiest way to do this is to simply breathe through your nose.
You probably breathe through your mouth a lot more than you are
aware of. Keeping your mouth closed and inhaling and exhaling
through your nose is a guaranteed way to calm yourself down,
reduce stress levels, and become more centered.
As you breathe, attend to your posture, as well. Sit or stand up
straight – again, without straining or trying too hard. Here’s
a simple image to help you: imagine that your sternum (breastbone)
is connected to a silver thread hung from the ceiling.
As the thread lifts up your breastbone, you will automatically
straighten your posture. Your shoulders will naturally roll back
and your lower back will naturally move forward for better support.
Breathing through your nose, and standing or sitting up straight,
automatically help you breathe more deeply, without straining or
trying.
Try this: stop what you are doing at various times during the day,
and assess how you have been breathing. Do a little self-inventory
to determine whether you feel a little off or unbalanced in your
breathing as you rush about from meeting to appointment, or try
to get your work completed by some deadline.
Then see how breathing in and out through your nose, with nice
gentle breaths, helps you re-center and re-focus. Try it right
now, as you are reading this.
That’s much better now, isn’t it?
Imagine going through life feeling this relaxed and focused,
most of the time. It’s possible. All it takes is a little of your
time to learn and practice. If you’re interested in incorporating
healthy breathing into your life, you’re in the right place.
In addition to these tips, you can discover exactly what you need
to begin transforming the way you go through life with the programs,
articles and other resources at the Best Breathing Exercises
website.
You Can Do It!
Karen
“Best Breathing Exercises: Transform Body Mind and Spirit with
Dynamic Energy Exercise!”
www.BestBreathingExercises.com
Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011