Breathe well

Your exercise performance can dramatically increase and stress levels decrease when you understand proper breathing. Our breathing mechanism has changed over the years due to stress in our life. This change has increased the amount of tension in our body.

 When we are born we naturally breathe through our diaphragm which is also called fetal breathing or natural breathing. The natural way of breathing is when you inhale and your stomach inflates and as you exhale your stomach deflates.

The amount of stress in our lives increases by the time we become an adult - this creates tension that carries over to the muscles in our face, neck, and shoulders.  In time, we carry so much tension that it eventually effects our breathing mechanism.

We then breathe shallow breaths and use only 1/3 of our diaphragm (also known as upper breathing) because of this stress. We need to relax the upper body and let our breaths sink or flow downwards. Mastering filling your lungs from the bottom is important for your health and well being.

Here's how to breathe properly- by simply relaxing your shoulders at a sitting or standing position with shoulder width apart. Place fingers tips into the soft part of your abdomen and be relaxed.  When inhaling, the muscles of your diaphragm push out and as you exhale your fingers go back in. So as you inhale you will inflate and exhaling you will deflate. 

Proper breathing plays an important part in protecting your spine when you exercise. 

It supports you spine and helps prevent injury.  Start thinking about your breathing and in time it will come to you naturally.