Breathing properly is very important. It regulates your body’s functioning and gives you strength both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, most people are unable to breathe effectively. They fill the lungs with only half a liter of air, while the lung capacity allows you to draw in as much as 5-6 liters of air. Thus, they deprive the body of the opportunity to work at full power.
Deep breathing helps strengthen the body’s defenses, thanks to its relaxing effect. By reducing tension and stress, you control the release of hormones that can damage the immune system. Deep breathing stimulates the lymphatic system. It removes toxins produced by our body’s metabolic processes and therefore, it needs to be released regularly.
Most people take short, shallow breaths into their chest. It can make you feel anxious and zap your energy. With this technique, you’ll learn how to take bigger breaths, all the way into your belly.
1. Get comfortable. You can lie on your back in bed or on the floor with a pillow under your head and knees. Or you can sit in a chair with your shoulders, head, and neck supported against the back of the chair.
2. Breathe in through your nose. Let your belly fill with air.
3. Breathe out through your nose.
4. Place one hand on your belly and the other hand on your chest. As you breathe in, feel your belly rise and as you breathe out, feel your belly lower. The hand on your belly should move more than the one that’s on your chest.
5. Take three more full deep breaths. Breathe fully into your belly as it rises and falls with your breath.
The breathing pattern affects the whole body. We should spend at least 10 minutes deep breathing at least 2-3 times a day.
Start practicing today and you’ll feel much better day by day.