Breathing is the first thing we do when we are born and the last thing we do before we die but how much importance do we give to breathing? We can stay alive for long periods without eating, drinking or sleeping, but if we cannot breathe, we die within a few minutes. Unfortunately, most of us don’t think twice about our pattern of breathing… because it’s automatic and we all do it on average 20,000 times a day, but why breathing properly is so important? Breathing is important for two reasons:
1.It supplies our bodies and its various organs with oxygen, which is vital for our survival. In fact, through our breathing we provide oxygen to our body which cannot be stored and must be replenished continuously and steadily, so it is important to know how to breathe properly.
2.With our breathing, we also get rid of waste products and toxins from the body. Through our breathing, we bring not only oxygen to our body but also excrete toxic substances that we have created and with bad breathing these can easily stagnate in our bodies and damage our vital functions.
Unfortunately, most of us use only a third of the actual breathing capacity and, therefore, we cannot breathe well. Some signs of a bad breathing: – Hold our breath at times – Feel the need for a long breath – Have a very short breath – Ran out of breath when we are moving faster. Our breathing is also the link between our body and our mind and for both to function well, they need oxygen. If our way of breathing is short and quick our minds will be nervous and agitated. If our breathing is irregular the mind is anxious and disturbed. One of the main causes of a bad breathing can be a lack of exercise, but it is not always so. By learning how to breathe well we will become healthier and stronger. Knowing how to breathe also help us to control our emotions and fears and keep a clear and sharp mind. If our breathing is deep, slow and regular then our mind will reach a state of tranquility and calm. When we are upset or stressed our breathing becomes quick and shallow. Breathing deeply and slowly instantly calms us down mentally as well as physically.
Concentrating on our breathing, also helps us to live the present and feel alive. Very often our mind is thinking about something while our body is doing something else, as a result, our mind and our body are not unified. We can learn how to breathe properly by practicing some breathing exercises. Here is a simple breathing exercise that can be done at any time of the day, in three simple movements, at least for a couple of minutes:
1) Do a deep inhalation
2) Hold your breath for a few seconds
3) Then do a deep exhalation If you feel a slight sense of vertigo, do not worry, it is due to the surge of a greater volume of oxygen to the brain.
I suggest to repeat this exercise several times throughout the day, especially at times when we are feeling particularly agitated, our morale is low or even when we feel tired. Doing some Breathing exercises in the morning and in the evening can help us to become healthier and stronger. For more breathing exercises check out the link below.
Excerpted from: http://howtobehappy.guru/theimportance-of-proper-breathing/#ixzz4dUiu7rlW