This is a topic that could fit into any category on this site because of the benefits. We breathe all the time, we need to breathe to live. The sad thing is most of us don’t breathe correctly. I’ve personally experienced the wonders of breathing exercises when I was under a lot of stress. I would get extremely angry and someone would say “breathe, take a deep breath”. I would look at them thinking to myself “what in the world is that going to solve? I’m breathing now idiot!”
I was so wrong, it has made such a huge difference in my life. There were times when I would workout and literally feel like I couldn’t take another step or move another muscle. I was about to give up when someone said “remember your breathing techniques”. I started focusing on my breathing and I was able to get through the rest of the workout with ease. Consult your doctor before attempting to do any deep breathing exercises if you have any medical concerns.
20 Benefits of breathing exercises:
Provides more oxygen for the body
Can provide pain relief
Sends you into a deep state of relaxation
Can give you more stamina
It expands your lung capacity
Provides stress relief
Helps improve your sleep
You can develop a better response to stress
It increases your vitality
Provides energy
You can experience a sense of peace
Can decrease wrinkles
Will be able to think clearer
Can help to eliminate waste in the body
Helps increase flexibility
It helps improve your concentration
Has the ability to make you more self-aware
Can provide happiness in your overall life
Can reduce physical and mental fatigue
It can relieve congestion and improve your blood circulation
A list of some breathing exercises worth trying:
Deep Breathing
Abdominal Breathing
Visualizing and breathing
Breathing Meditation
Stimulation Breathing
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Excited yet? Ready to give it a try? Ok! Let’s try Stimulation breathing. Use this technique to give yourself more energy:
First you should sit straight up
Close your mouth and breathe in and out of your nose. Do this as fast as possible. Both breaths should be equal in length.
Your breaths will be around two to three cycles of inhalation and exhalation per second
In your chest, abdomen, and base of your neck you should feel the strength in the muscles in these areas increase
If this is your first time don’t do this exercise for longer then 15 seconds. After a while when you are use to it increase the length by 5 seconds. As long as it is comfortable to you continue to do this exercise but never exceed one minute.
Do this for no longer than 15 seconds when first starting. With practice, slowly increase the length of the exercise by 5 seconds each time. Do it as long as you are comfortably able, not exceeding one full minute.
You can also do certain breathing exercise while taking long walks, you can read more about long walks in this post Take A Long Walk. The awesome thing about breathing exercises, is most techniques can be done anywhere at any time. Breathing clears your mind, but you have to be open to it. Before you try a breathing exercise you should always find a calm, quiet, comfortable place in your home. You should eliminate all distractions (including negative thoughts). Take yourself mentally to a place you want to be, somewhere that is relaxing and makes you happy.
I could literally go on and on about breathing exercises but I would rather hear how you feel about the exercise you just tried. How did you feel? What did you think about? Are you going to fit breathing exercises into your routine? Till then, keep smiling, keep working toward your goals, and most of all keep breathing. ^_^
