breathing lessons, part 1 - the physiology of breathing

 Breath is life. You can go days with no water and more days with no food or sleep, but you cannot live more than a few minutes without breathing. Most people breathe very inefficiently, using less than half of their lung capacity. Breathing is the way that most toxins are released from the body and poor breathing contributes to a multitude of physical ills. Obesity, restrictive clothing, poor posture, stress, and poor breathing habits all negatively affect this vital process. The famous Framingham Heart Study found that breathing capacity as measured by forced exhalation volume was the best predictor of how long a person will live. http://thorax.bmj.com/content/66/1/1.extract


Better breathing will oxygenate, detoxify, and energize your body and your brain. Many health-care professionals believe that improved breathing is the number one thing you can do to improve your health. When asked, more than 9 out of 10 doctors recommend breathing to their patients. Practicing deeper breathing will help your body get into the habit of breathing better. Exhalation is the key to better breathing. Most people, most of the time exhale only a fraction of the stale air in their lungs which limits the amount of fresh air they breathe in.

So if you have a minute - let’s practice. Sit in a way that does not restrict your breathing and become more aware of your breathing. Breathe through your nose if that is comfortable and just notice…..breathing in…….and breathing out.

Now when you exhale, make a conscious effort to breathe out more deeply than usual. Pull your stomach in and tighten the abdominal muscles slightly - pushing out more air. Then you will automatically breathe in more fresh air. Repeat this a couple of times, but don’t overdo it. Your brain may not be used to getting that much oxygen.

Reminding yourself to exhale more completely and to take a deeper breath a few times per day will train your body to habitually breathe more deeply and will positively impact your physical health.

Stay tuned for part 2 – the psychology of breathing, but don’t hold your breath.