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How one hour of slow breathing changed my life
Breathing: The First Act Of Life
Breathing is the first basic act of life and we take about 670 million breaths in a lifetime.
Breathing is so natural to us that very few scientists have studied it in detail. Breathing is thought of as just a binary activity crucial to our lives, but the way we breathe matters a lot.
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Breathing: The First Act Of Life
Breathing is the first basic act of life and we take about 670 million breaths in a lifetime.
Breathing is so natural to us that very few scientists have studied it in detail. Breathing is thought of as just a binary activity crucial to our lives, but the way we breathe matters a lot.
How To Breathe Right
A perfect ‘slow’ breath that creates profound effects in our body and mind is this: 5.5 seconds inhaling, followed by 5.5 seconds of exhaling. This can be practiced for a few minutes, or even an hour.
The heart, lungs and other organs benefit greatly, and the imbalances are restored to an extent.
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Pursed lip breathing
- While keeping your mouth closed, take a deep breath in through your nose, counting to 2. The breath does not have to be deep.
- Put your lips together as if you are starting to whistle or blow out candles on a birthday cake. This is known as “pursing” your lips.
- While continuing to keep your lips pursed, slowly breathe out by counting to 4. Don’t try to force the air out, but instead breathe out slowly through your mouth.
Pursed lip breathing benefits:
- It’s been shown to reduce how hard a person has to work to breathe.
- It helps release air trapped in the lungs.
- It promotes relaxation.
- It reduces shortness of breath.
Practice it 4 to 5 times per day, daily.
Pursed lip breathing is best for performing strenuous activities, such as climbing stairs.
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Diaphragmatic breathing
This is also known as belly breathing:
- Relax your shoulders and sit back or lie down.
- Place one hand on your belly and one on your chest.
- Inhale through your nose for 2 seconds, feeling the air move into your abdomen and feeling your stomach move out. Your stomach should move more than your chest does.
- Breathe out for 2 seconds through pursed lips while pressing on your abdomen.
- Repeat.
Pursed-lips breathing
It slows down your breathing, making it easier for the lungs to function and improves the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide:
- Inhale slowly through your nostrils.
- Purse your lips, as if pouting or about to blow on something.
- Breathe out as slowly as possible through pursed lips. This should take at least twice as long as it did to breathe in.
- Repeat.
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