From the article: Breathing Exercises
Share Post: Many of us have forgotten how to breathe properly. Are you among the population of shallow breathers, unconsciously blocking your airways? I think is long over due for all of us to take a collective DEEP cleansing breath. Do you have a breathing tip to help the shallow breathers open up their mouths and nostrils and breathe in and out? Please share if you can offer a tip or simple breathing exercise that works for you. Share Your Breathing Tips
Energize You Now
- Exhale fully, drawing the abdomen toward the spine and inhale with mouth open and pushing the lower abdomen out as if filling a balloon. Let all of the muscles go soft and allow the exhale without effort. Repeat without pausing. Perform in sets of 5 breaths.
- —Guest TOM GOODE
Breathing and Visualization
- When I'm stressed, I like to imagine that I'm breathing in 'peace' and breathing out 'stress.' I imagine that all the built-up negative energy is moving from my fingertips and toes, and traveling through my body to my lungs, and out, while I'm being replenished with positive energy. It really does help with stress, and my breathing becomes slow, controlled and diaphragmic in the process.
- —Guest Elizabeth369
Try Singing!
- Hi, Phylameana, You're absolutely right that many have forgotten how to breathe properly. If you just look at a sleeping baby, you'll see how we USED to breathe naturally, with our abdomens filling with air first, and then our chests. I take singing lessons, and it's such a joy. One of my teachers once said, "Singers are just professional breathers." There are many exercises for correct breathing, which leads to better sounds when we sing... so I heartily suggest to all your readers that they take singing lessons. If that's not possible, then stand tall (crouching gives you less space for air) and breathe in --imagining the most wonderful scent that you can-- into your abdomen. Keep your hands there and imagine that your abdomen is filling up like a balloon. If you're doing it right, your hands will gently rise. Even your back and the sides of your ribs will expand. Next, slowly let that air rise to your chest. Hold for a brief second, and then exhale. Repeat this a few times.
- —Linda.longisland
Into/Out of the Belly
- When you consciously breathe, make sure you are inhaling deep into the belly as a child would. Slowly fill your belly bringing it up into the upper lung space. As you release the breath, do so just as slowly as the inhale, releasing the breath from the upper chest to the belly, expelling all the air that you can. It is equally important to expel the air as it is to inhale the air.
- —Guest Sherry
Favorite Breathing Technique
- I'm honestly not sure what this technique is called, because I've heard a couple of terms to describe it. Take a cleansing breath or two. Breathe in through the nose to a slow count of 7 (or another number -- some people start with 4). Hold for a count of 7. Exhale to a count of 7. Hold empty for a count of 7. Repeat several times. This helps me quiet my mind during meditation.
- —Guest Janet
Count to Three
- Throughout the day, I try to pay attention to the pacing of my breathing. I will take slow, deep breaths, in and out, to the count of three.
- —Guest frannie22
