Breathing Exercises for Health and Well Being
It is rather unusual to many of us in the western world to give so much importance to breathing techniques and breathing development. After all, we are always breathing, aren't we? It seems rather silly to pay extra attention to something we do naturally? But, notice your own breathing. Isn't each breath actually very shallow? Don't you often hold your breath? Well, that obviously may not be the optimal depth, balance and ease! It is just like the taste of chocolate, if you have never experienced optimal depth, balance and ease of breathing, how will you know whether you have it or not?
The magnitude of crisis in modern medicine demands immediate and broadly pervasive consumer action to enhance health and curb medical expenditure. Simple but appropriate breathing development practiced diligently and on a daily basis, can precipitate a remarkable revolution in our personal lives as well as influence the history of human health care and medical evolution.
Physiological Benefits
The presence of special breathing practices in the ancient cultures has always been a mystery to people in the Western world. There are numerous beneficial physiological mechanisms that are triggered when we turn our attention to our breath and then increase its ease, depth, volume and balance.
When breathing volume, rate and awareness are all optimized, dramatic physiological and even emotional changes can occur. Slow, deep breathing can be so relaxing. It acts as a quick stress reliever. Unknown to science until very recently, our lungs, diaphragm and thorax acts as the primary pump for lymph fluid and heart. In addition, breath is the source of oxygen, which is the key element in the body's ability to produce energy. Our brain uses more than 25% of that energy.
Exercises Based on Health Parameters
Just because one particular breathing exercise or breathing relaxation technique feels good does not mean it is healthy or will resolve shortness of breath or a breathing development goal or result in a long term aid in a cardio, wellness or performance program. The Optimal Breathing Development System is not so much about breathing exercises. We have found that "breathing exercises" mean many things to many people and as a grouping is a mixture of good, mediocre, bad, confusing and outright dangerously unhealthy ways for using the breath and breathing.
Diaphragm of Emotions
In the areas of joy, fear, guilt, anger, depression, anxiety and panic the breathing diaphragm is much more than a mechanical shifter of air. It is, above all, a muscle of emotional experience and expression. Most people have had experiences of just how infectious it can be when someone nearby suddenly and spontaneously laughs or yawns. We usually laugh or yawn right along with them. Why? Because there is both a physiological and energetic response in the diaphragm that causes it to react in sympathy with what is being expressed by someone else.
Singing for instance (if you can breathe right you CAN sing), relies on the importance of wanting to express emotion. If the diaphragm is thought of only as a pump then such thinking will greatly diminish its function and limit its invaluable contribution to vocal expression.
Negative emotions such as anxiety can be greatly controlled with proper breathing; anger and depression as well. It is a rule of those that work a lot with the breathing that any negative emotion you can breathe through long enough will lose its grip on you.
Psychological and Emotional Healing
Altered states of consciousness are huge aspects of certain breathing exercises. Under the guidance of a skilled alternative medicine/health practitioner of breathwork they can be most beneficial, but unlocking the life-force energy (chi, kundalini, prana, life force etc.) can be very powerful, must be done gently, and should be undertaken with trained assistance. Some early practitioners of transformational breathwork (i.e. rebirthing, Holotropic Breathwork, etc.) used cathartic, high-energy forms of over-breathing, paying little or no attention to proper breathing mechanics.
In some cases, these produced states that were too overwhelming and ungrounding for the participant. Persons with unresolved trauma issues (PTSD) should be especially cautious with these forms of breathwork as they may trigger releases that can be re-traumatizing.
Holistic Health
Patients and those with performance or personal development goals, including meditation, anti aging, speaking, weight loss and in almost all cases better sleep have used our breathing development practices with great success. Even many sports performance goals including scuba and free diving gain progress where all else had failed as they had been missing the primary energy component of the way they should have been breathing.
Correct breathing exercises can also prove beneficial to many health disorders like asthma, COPD and high blood pressure or hypertension. Research proves breathing slower for a few minutes a day in most where the HBP is not created by prescription drugs or stimulants can bring down blood pressure to normal levels.
Hazards of Incorrect Breathing Exercises
Cautions to be judicious and respectful of deep breathing exercises abound in the literature on hatha yoga. And it does indeed seem from anecdotal reports of explorers in this field that the rhythm and record of our respiration resonates throughout the body. It seems to accentuate whatever is in the mind, whether it be benevolence, or malevolence, harmony or disharmony, virtue or vice.
On the negative side, experienced teachers report that quirkiness of any sort gets accentuated in students who go too far. It might be an abusive streak, laughing inappropriately, speaking rudely, flightiness, twitchiness, or nervous tics. Right to left physical imbalances also become exaggerated.
Unfortunately, novices often close their ears to warnings; having become addicted to their practice, they will not be denied. Competent teachers of hatha yoga will be watchful of these simple matters and wary of tutoring refractory students. Even the beginning exercises discussed in this chapter should be treated with respect.
Apart from psychological concerns, the special physiological hazards of breathing exercises is that they can cause problems without giving us traditional signals warning us against doing something harmful. In athletics, the practice of asana, experiments with diet, or just tinkering with any subject in the physical world, we depend on our senses to tell us that we are exceeding our capacity or doing something inadvisable. But breathing exercises are different. In that realm we are dealing with phenomena that our senses, or at least our untutored senses, are often unable to pick up, even though they can still affect the body. And because of this, advanced exercises should be undertaken only by those who are adequately prepared. H. David Coulter, Anatomy of Hatha Yoga p 131
Fundamentals First
Breath is life and practice makes permanent so we need perfect practice lest tensions build that cause distortions in our breathing and therefore our lives. Most important are grounding, sequencing, balance, smoothness, depth, ease, strength, integration and
coordination from the throat, chest, abdomen, back, sides and crotch both front to back, side to side and diagonally.
FIRST develop your breathing properly. THEN use/exercise it for what ever goals or purposes you might have. Proper breathing development techniques and exercises are for most easy to learn, easy to apply, require no special knowledge or training and can be practiced by most people (sick or well) daily with very little impact on time or energy. They are a great way to recharge your cellular batteries.
About the Author
Michael White is a health educator, author, breathing development specialist, public speaker, vocalist, and CEO of Breathing.com and the Optimal Breathing School. He has studied breathing development since 1975 and helped thousands transform their lives through correct breathing and nutrition. Visit Breathing.com
|
You're About To Discover How to
Sleep Better At Night...
The Sunset Dimmer is the Only Product on the Market that Help You Fall Asleep Gradually & Naturally.
But don't take our word for it. Here is only one Testimonial... "I've been using the Sunset Dimmer in my 7 month old daughter's room for a couple of weeks now. Our pediatrician told us early on how important a regular bedtime routine is when establishing sleep habits with an infant. The 30 minutes of light that the Sunset Dimmer provides is a perfect compliment to that routine. As we change her into pajamas, read a couple of stories, and quietly wind down from the day's activities, the light in her room is slowly and steadily dimming. It is very subtle, but incredibly calming and relaxing. By the time I lay her down in the crib it is almost completely dark and she usually will drift right off to sleep. And, most of the time, I feel ready to do the same! I love my Sunset Dimmer and am going to suggest it to families that have children with sleep issues" Elyssa - Cupertino, CA |
 |
 Breathe Right SENSITIVE 60 Clear Nasal Strips 2 30 ct boxes SMALL MED $16.16 Time Remaining: 5d 21h 28m Buy It Now for only: $16.16 Buy It Now |
 260 BREATHE RIGHT EXTRA NASAL STRIPS 50 STRONGER $59.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 7h 35m |
 84 CVS Sleep Strips Nightime Sleep Aid Nasal Strips Large Tan breathe right $15.99 Time Remaining: 2d 15h 30m Buy It Now for only: $15.99 Buy It Now |
 50 packs Breathe Right Nasal Strips Advanced Drug Free 100strips total NEW $13.00 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 5h 47m |
 90 BREATHE RIGHT ORIGINAL TAN SM MED STRIPS $30.99 Time Remaining: 6d 20h 37m Buy It Now for only: $30.99 Buy It Now |
 90 Hannaford Brand Large Tan Nasal Strips Sleep Aid Stop Snoring breathe right $13.99 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 32m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 Buy It Now |
 2 Brand New Box Breathe Right Methol Nasal Strips total 20 ct $3.99 Time Remaining: 33m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right ORIGINAL TAN 60 Clear Nasal Strips 2 30 ct boxes LARGE NIB $18.03 Time Remaining: 5d 23h 15m Buy It Now for only: $18.03 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right Nasal Strips Advanced 24 CT GOODBYE SNORING SLEEP WELL $11.49 Time Remaining: 2h 22m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 Buy It Now |
 ANTI SNORE BREATHE QUIET HEAR NO Zs TONIGHT SLEEP RIGHT $19.98 Time Remaining: 29d 29m Buy It Now for only: $19.98 Buy It Now |
 Wholesale BEST Resale PRICE 300 NEW Breathe Right Nasal Strips 10 Bxs KIDS 5 12 $19.99 Time Remaining: 19d 7h 12m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now |
 1 YR BREATHE CLEAR sleep right aid Stop Snore Snoring C12 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 5h 5m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right Original Tan Nasal Strips 60 Large $18.99 Time Remaining: 19d 15h 10m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 Buy It Now |
 Advanced Breathe Right 10 Nasal Strips Clear Stop Snoring Breathe Better $3.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 7h 3m |
 Breathe Right SENSITIVE 60 Clear Nasal Strips 2 30 ct boxes LARGE NIB $18.04 Time Remaining: 5d 44m Buy It Now for only: $18.04 Buy It Now |
 BREATHE RIGHT ADVANCED NASAL STRIPS 52 CLEAR STRIPS new sealed $16.99 Time Remaining: 29d 2h 47m Buy It Now for only: $16.99 Buy It Now |
 4 boxes Breathe Right Snoring Nasal Strips Original Tan Large 50ct $9.95 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 4h 34m |
 Breathe Right ADVANCED 52 Clear Nasal Strips TWO 26 ct boxes One Size $18.04 Time Remaining: 5d 45m Buy It Now for only: $18.04 Buy It Now |
 5 BREATHE RIGHT EXTRA $12.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 21h |
 Breathe Right Clear Large Strips 30 Count $6.99 Time Remaining: 1d 20h 49m Buy It Now for only: $6.99 Buy It Now |
 6 BOXES BREATHE RIGHT BREATHE RIGHT 60 STRIPS $21.99 Time Remaining: 29d 3h 29m Buy It Now for only: $21.99 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right Advanced 10 Boxes Of 26 Strips 260 New $59.99 Time Remaining: 7h 40m Buy It Now for only: $79.99 Buy It Now |
 BREATHE RIGHT NASAL STRIPS 52 Extra 2 26 count boxes $19.50 Time Remaining: 2d 18h 6m Buy It Now for only: $19.50 Buy It Now |
 1 YEAR BREATHE FREE sleep right + Stop Snore Snoring A83D STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 7h 55m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 120 BREATHE RIGHT CLEAR Nasal Strips Small Medium Size Nose Stop Snoring Breath $49.99 Time Remaining: 11d 20h 50m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right EXTRA TAN Nasal Strips 52 Strips 2 SEALED BOXES $18.99 Time Remaining: 6d 1h 25m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 Buy It Now |
 1 YR BREATHE CLEAR sleep right aid Stop Snore Snoring 5P502 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 20h 26m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right Nasal Strips Extra 50 Stronger Adult Size 44 Tan Large Snoring $19.75 Time Remaining: 6d 3h 54m Buy It Now for only: $19.75 Buy It Now |
 Kids Breathe Right StripsNasal Congestion30 ct $2.50 Time Remaining: 15d 1h 18m Buy It Now for only: $2.50 Buy It Now |
 1 YR BREATHE CLEAR sleep right aid Stop Snore Snoring 12p58 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 47m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 338 BREATHE RIGHT EXTRA NASAL STRIPS 13 BOXES OF 26 STRIPS NIB $104.00 Time Remaining: 20d 5h 59m Buy It Now for only: $104.00 Buy It Now |
 1 YR BREATHE CLEAR sleep right aid Stop Snore Snoring P3423 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 1d 5h 45m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right Nasal Advanced 4 Point Technology Adult Noses 44 Clear Strips $19.75 Time Remaining: 29d 21h 57m Buy It Now for only: $19.75 Buy It Now |
 30 BREATHE RIGHT TAN Nasal Strips Large Size Nose Band Stop Snoring Breath NEW $13.99 Time Remaining: 29d 23h 8m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 Buy It Now |
 1 YEAR BREATHE FREE sleep right + Stop Snore Snoring 22432 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 16h 55m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right Original TAN Nasal Strips 60 LARGE SEALED BOXES $18.99 Time Remaining: 3d 23h 27m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 Buy It Now |
 1 YR BREATHE CLEAR sleep right aid Stop Snore Snoring 12p58 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 5m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 NEW First Doc Breathe Right TAN Nasal Strips 50Pcs M size STOP SNORE NOSE CARE $13.99 Time Remaining: 26d 4h 38m Buy It Now for only: $13.99 Buy It Now |
 260 BREATHE RIGHT Nasal Strips ADVANCED Large Size Nose Snoring Sleep Breath NEW $99.99 Time Remaining: 15d 18h 19m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 Buy It Now |
 1 YR BREATHE CLEAR sleep right aid Stop Snore Snoring 10p42 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 2d 23h 8m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 120 Breathe Right Original Tan Nasal Strips 4 Box Large WW Ship 740 Canada 6 $39.99 Time Remaining: 28d 12h 28m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now |
 1 YEAR BREATHE FREE sleep right + Stop Snore Snoring p9513 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 21h 51m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right CLEAR Nasal Strips 60 LARGE SEALED BOXES $18.99 Time Remaining: 9d 9m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right CLEAR Nasal Strips 60 SMALL MEDIUM SEALED BOXES $18.99 Time Remaining: 9d 13m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 Buy It Now |
 1 YEAR BREATHE FREE sleep right + Stop Snore Snoring 7P508 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 1d 3h 29m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 78 BREATHE RIGHT ORIGINAL TAN LARGE NASAL STRIPS $26.99 Time Remaining: 18d 20h 47m Buy It Now for only: $26.99 Buy It Now |
 30 BREATHE RIGHT CLEAR LARGE NASAL STRIPS $10.99 Time Remaining: 22h 5m |
 Lot of 12 Boxes of Breathe Right Kids Strips 360 TOTAL STRIPS $27.99 Time Remaining: 28d 2h 9m Buy It Now for only: $27.99 Buy It Now |
 HUGE LOT OF 50 BREATHE RIGHT NASAL STRIPS ADVANCED NIP 25 PACKAGES FREE SHIPPING $18.99 Time Remaining: 18d 4h 54m Buy It Now for only: $18.99 Buy It Now |
 1 YR BREATHE CLEAR sleep right aid Stop Snore Snoring 5P502 STRIPS NASAL CONES $12.68 Time Remaining: 2d 20h 31m Buy It Now for only: $13.95 Buy It Now |
 120 KIDS CHILDREN SmADULT Breathe Right Nasal Strips Snoring Congestion $8.62 Time Remaining: 28d 6h 21m Buy It Now for only: $8.62 Buy It Now |
 Breathe Right Nasal Strips, Large, Tan, 30-Count Box List Price: Sale Price: $5.63 You save: $8.36 (60%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionNasal congestion (or a blocked nose) can make you breathe through your mouth instead of your nose which may cause snoring and a bad night’s sleep for you and your partner. Breathe Right Nasal Strips gently open your nasal passages helping you to breathe better by providing temporary relief from nasal congestion and stuffiness which can be caused by colds and allergies...  |
 Breathe Right Nasal Strips, Extra, 26-Count Box List Price: Sale Price: $10.73 You save: $3.26 (23%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionBreathe Right nasal strips gently open nasal passages so you can breathe through your nose and close your mouth, reducing snoring. Each drug - free, non - prescription nasal strip consists of flexible, "spring-like" bands... |
 Breathe Right Nasal Strips, Large, Clear, 30-Count Boxes (Pack of 2) List Price: Sale Price: $20.05 You save: $4.41 (18%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionBreathe Right® Nasal Strips:Relieves nasal congestion Drug-Fee Cold & allergy reliefIdeal For Dry or Sensitive Skin:Gentle on skin Easy to remove Comfortable |
 Breathe Right Nasal Strips, Small/Medium, Tan, 30-Count Boxes (Pack of 2) List Price: Sale Price: $20.45 You save: $4.01 (16%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionBreathe Right® Nasal Strips:Relieves nasal congestion Drug-Fee Cold & allergy reliefIt's simple. Two flexible, "spring-like" pieces gently lift nasal passages open while a special adhesive holds |
 Breathe Right Advanced Nasal Strips, 26-Count List Price: Sale Price: $12.09 You save: $3.90 (24%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionBreathe right advanced nasal strips gently open nasal passages so you can breathe through your nose and close your mouth, reducing snoring. |
 Breathe Right Snore Relief Throat Spray, 2-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2) List Price: Sale Price: $4.54 You save: $19.92 (81%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionNatural. Clinically proven. Reduces loudness and frequency of snoring; Improves quality of sleep; Pleasant taste. People Snore for a Variety of Reasons: 85% of people with common snoring problems can get relief by using Breathe Right products... |
 Breathe Right Mentholated Vapor Strips for Cold & Allergy Relief, Small/Medium, 28-Count Boxes (Pack of 2) List Price: Sale Price: $13.50 You save: $0.58 (4%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionBreathe Right 28 ct. Mentholated Vapor Strips for cold and allergyrelief. This pack contains small/medium size nasal strips. This size fits the majority of adults |
 Breathe Right Nasal Strip 30-pk. - Clear (Small/Medium) List Price: Sale Price: $8.31 You save: $2.68 (24%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product DescriptionBreathe Right nasal strips gently open nasal passages so you can breathe through your nose and close your mouth, reducing snoring.Clear nasal strips offer the relief you find in Original Tan nasal strips, made especially for those with delicate skin. |
 Breathe Right Snore Relief Throat Strips, Wintergreen, 30-Count Packages (Pack of 2) List Price: Sale Price: $19.14 You save: $1.04 (5%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionReduces loudness & frequency of snoring. 30 Quiet nights. Physiology of Snoring: When you're awake, air flows freely through your breathing passages. But at night, nasal passages become restricted and throat muscles relax, making it harder for air to pass |
 Breathe Right Nasal Strips For Kids, 30-Count Boxes (Pack of 2) List Price: Sale Price: $7.49 You save: $19.69 (72%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product DescriptionTake Care Of Your Precious Ones With Drug Free Breathe Right Nasal strips. |