Do You Breathe Correctly? Improve Your Health with This Simple Change

Find Out if You Breathe Correctly and Improve Your Health with this Simple Change

Most of us never give much thought to how we are breathing. Breathing is typically just viewed as an automatic function of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

Yet, 85 % of us do not breathe correctly!

How you breathe affects every aspect of your life and breathing correctly can greatly improve your overall health.

The simple change of learning to breathe correctly will change your life!

The most beneficial way to breathe is with your diaphragm; however, the majority of people are chest breathers.

How to Check if You Breathe Correctly

With this simple exercise you can determine if you breathe with your diaphragm or chest.

1. Place your right hand on your chest and your left hand on your abdomen.
2. Take a deep breath
3. When taking a deep breath which hand rises more? Did your right hand move first and the farthest? Did your shoulders rise?

If so, you’re a chest breather.

Don’t worry, with a little practice you can easily adapt to diaphragmatic breathing.

Problems with Chest Breathing

When you breathe with your chest you’re only utilizing a small portion of your lung capacity. This is a much less efficient use of oxygen and can cause an oxygen debt.

When the diaphragm is utilized, it allows for added capacity of oxygen. Also, the lower portion of the lungs is said to be more efficient at delivering oxygen. Breathing into your abdomen allows for optimal use of lung capacity as intended by nature.

How to Change and Breathe Correctly

Practicing diaphragmatic breathing will allow you to utilize your optimal lung capacity and it will eventually become second nature.

Practice these steps for a few minutes every day:

(You can do this lying down or standing up, however, it may be easier to focus on the movement of  your abdomen while lying down.)

How to practice diaphragmatic breathing:

1. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen
2. Take a deep breath expanding your abdomen as you inhale for three seconds
3. Exhale for six seconds
4. Repeat deep, slow, relaxing breaths.

If you spend 10 minutes a day or a few minutes a couple times a day practicing these breathing techniques your body will be able to adapt to the new breathing technique.

Over time you body will become accustomed to the breathing technique and it will become an unconscious act.

Breathe Correctly, Why it benefits you

Efficient use of the diaphragm and increased oxygen benefits overall health. Many diseases and conditions are treated with increased oxygen due to the health benefits.

When you breathe with your diaphragm, the increased oxygen will increase your energy and decrease tension and anxiety.

Diaphragm Breathing benefits:

1. Oxygenated Blood
2. Increased Energy
3. Detoxify Your Body
4. Boost Your Immune System
5. Improved Digestion
6. Reduced Anxiety
7. Increased Release of Serotonin and Beta Endorphins