“One way to break up any kind of tension is good deep breathing.”

- Byron Nelson

Like the invisible breeze that sends a sailboat on its journey, breathing supports life in you, filling your sails with vitality. You can survive without food or water for a limited time, but you cannot live without oxygen for more than a few minutes.

With each breath, cells are replenished with oxygen and the energy to perform all kinds of essential functions. Cells that do not receive oxygen eventually become cancerous.

Breathing is one of the main ways the body detoxifies. The lung itself is a detoxification organ, drawing in oxygen while eliminating carbon dioxide and other toxins. Experts estimate that proper breathing helps your body eliminate toxins 15 times faster than poor, shallow breathing. You’ll not only be healthier, but you’ll be able to perform better (mentally and physically) and, of course, be less stressed and more relaxed. When you are relaxed, you breathe more calmly and deeply than when you experience pain, anger or fear. So, by learning to control your breathing, you can influence your emotional and physical health.

Here’s an exercise that will help you get the full benefits of good breathing. The techniques in this exercise are ones you should try to develop in your normal breathing, and that could take practice. Try to take about 10 minutes, but it can happen in five by cutting the time for each step in half. Use it when you need to relax or clear your head:

Get Ready (2 min.)

Make the room dark, or at least darker. Lie down on a couch or bed, or sit against a wall. Use a pillow for comfort. Make sure no part of your body is strained or supporting weight. Close your eyes. Just pay attention to your breathing for a minute or two. Don’t try to change it, just notice how it feels. Imagine the fresh blood flowing through your body. Listen to your surroundings.

STEP 1 (2 min.)

Practice breathing in and out of your nose. Exhaling through the mouth is okay for quick relaxation, but for normal breathing, in and out the nose is best. Take long breaths, not deep breaths. Try not to force it, you shouldn’t hear your breath coming in or out. You’re drawing slow breaths, not gulping it or blowing it out. Feel the rhythm of your breathing.

STEP 2 (3 min.)

Good breathing is done through the lower torso, rather than the upper torso. Each breath should expand your belly, your lower back and ribs. Relax your shoulders and try not to breathe with your chest. Put your hands on your stomach and feel them rise and fall. If it’s not working, push down gently with your hands for a few breaths and let go. Your stomach should start to move more freely.

Relax your face, your neck, your cheeks, your jaw, your temples, even your tongue.

STEP 3 (3 min.)

Feel the good air entering your lungs and feel the stale air leaving your body. “In with the good, out with the bad” is definitely true here. Make your exhale as long as your inhale to make sure all the bad air is gone. Remember, long slow breaths. Most people take 12-16 breaths per minute. Ideally, it should be 8-10.

Now try to make your exhale a little longer than your inhale for a while. Pause after your exhale without taking a breath. Focus on the stillness and on not forcing an inhale. Your body will breathe when it needs to.

Now Wake Up!

Breathing correctly is a very important, not only to be able to perform strenuous tasks, but to allow the lungs to fill up with air, and aid in controlling the heart rate. The benefits of proper breathing can assure you of not getting pneumonia when you have a bad cough, by clearing the air passages to the lungs. Proper deep breathing also can assist you in relaxing before doing things that cause you to be stressful and nervous.

So, try to practice proper breathing. Learn how your body feels. Memorize the actual process of taking in, holding, and releasing all that extra oxygen. It can be done anywhere, anytime with no restriction.

If you liked this article, please bookmark it on del.icio.us or vote for it on Digg. Thank you!