“improper breathing is a common cause of ill health. If I had to limit my advice on healthier living to just one tip, it would be simply to learn how to breathe correctly. There’s no single more powerful- or more simple- daily practice to further your health and well-being than breath-work.” ~Andrew Weil, M.D. Quote
I couldn’t start this blog off on a better quote about how important proper breathing is to our health. I ask my clients to show me how they take a deep breathe and then to exhale. I observe the chest lifting towards the sky and the stomach sucking into their body.
I ask them to try a different technique. “Try to take a deep breath and let your stomach bulge out while inhaling.” When they do this they sometimes let out a cough. They aren’t use to the extra oxygen going into their bodies. “Now that’s how you breath!”
Oxygen produces ATP. (adenosine triphosphate) and without ATP our bodies wouldn’t be able to work. Mitochondria produces most of supply of ATP for our bodies.
Mitochondria has also been linked to your aging process. When testing was done on rats, they killed the mitochondria in their bodies. The rats showed more evidence of rapid aging. Not making them older for say, but speeding up the aging look of their features. Article
So if breathing helps keep Mitochondria happy, it will produce more ATP and more ATP mean more energy, more energy means that more Mitochondria will have to be reproduce to give you more ATP. Shouldn’t that mean breathing, staying active with energy could be the answer to living longer, younger and healthier life?
Practice
Yes, practice breathing. Breathing is done by our involuntary muscles. Muscles that contact without conscious control. So when you are conscious of your breathing, you are able to expand your lungs to it’s full capacity. Strengthen your lungs by doing breathing exercises. This will expand your lungs and train them to intake more oxygen. This is two different techniques I try:
- Yoga is a great way to be aware of your breathing. Take yoga classes and focus on your breathing techniques with meditation.
- When you wake up sit on the edge of your bed before starting your day. Take 5 minutes to inhale and exhale. When you inhale, breath slowly with controlled breaths through your nose into your abdomen. Your chest should move up only when your abdomen is full, which will cause your chest to raise naturally and not forced. Let out through your mouth. Repeat this process and keep trying to intake more air each time. Holding a full breath is also beneficial to help expand your lung capacity.
When you breath it purifies the blood in your body by removing poisonous waste products that circulate in our system, helps with stress and lowering anxiety.
Do you ever yawn during the day? This is an indicator that your body isn’t receiving enough oxygen. Adding this 5 minute routine to start your day will not only make you healthier, but it will help with your self esteem and give you a stronger more thankful attitude to start your day off right. You have so much to be thankful for! Breath, live and be happy.