Proper breathing ensures that enough oxygen is flowing to the muscles you are using, and helps prevent unnecessary tension. A relaxed and full breath pattern encourages focus and concentration. Deep circular breathing, also known as connected breathing, involves an expansion of the rib cage out to the sides and back without allowing the shoulders to lift. It is also important to breathe into the lower part of your lungs, because there is more efficient gas exchange. This breathing pattern will help engage your deep abdominal muscles and stabilize your torso.
Did you know that breathing is the only essential bodily function performed unconsciously, that you can control consciously? Your body can go without food for months, without water for weeks, and yet your body can't go without oxygen for more than a few minutes.
Our breath is a major source of energy. Eastern cultures have explored the power inherent in the breath and speak of the energy as 'chi' or 'prana'. In Latin the word for breath and spirit is the same word 'spirare'. The word 'spirit' in the Hebrew language or 'life-force' can be translated into the word 'breath'. About 16 to 17 times per minute we say ‘yes’ to continuing our life here on Earth and take another breath. Our breath is quite literally our life force. We breathe about 10,000 quarts a day, oxygenating some 27 trillion cells.
The body discharges 70% of its toxins through the breath. If we are not effectively using the breath, our other systems work overtime to compensate for it. This overwork can set the stage for serious illness. You can learn the practice of healthy breathing to increase your energy level, lower blood pressure, increase vitality, enhance mental concentration and the ability to retain information, unleash creativity, improve circulation, and overcome anxiety disorders.
Breathing is something that is done everyday, unconsciously; yet most of us do it improperly. When babies breathe, it is instinctive. Watching a healthy baby while sleeping, one will notice the deep breaths that are taken which fill up the diaphragm and move up into the lungs. As a person ages, poor habits are picked up, nutrition worsens, and stress overwhelms the proper function of breathing — causing health to decline.
The average adult utilizes only about one quart of their six to seven quart lung capacity. Dysfunctional breathing habits are known as futile breathing. This is characterized by short, shallow irregular breathes. Futile breathing creates internal stress, confusion, tiredness, illness, and generally, poor results in life.
Inhaling deeply and evenly through both nostrils and exhaling through the mouth is known as circular or connected breathing. It helps to synchronize both hemispheres of the brain. It promotes the ‘whole body’ integration of our physical, mental, and emotional states of being. The right nostril tends to stimulate the left side of the brain and the left nostril stimulates the right side of the brain. Research has proven that the brain swaps the dominate nostril we breathe through every 90 minutes.
The best way to breathe is into the pit (or bottom) of your stomach. Breathe in through your nostrils as deep as you can. Put your hand on the bottom of your stomach and feel it fill up and expand as you breathe in. Few people realize that the lungs extend beyond the rib cage. In fact, two-thirds of the lungs sit below the lowest rib. Filling the larger portion of the lungs will greatly enhance your energy.
In many instances, especially those entrenched in fear, anger, or stress, deep circular breathing will help to diffuse the state of mind that may cause a reaction that is contrary to a balanced way of life. This exercise can also be used before speeches or performances that my otherwise be riddled with anxiety. Breathing exercises are oftentimes used during labor and childbirth for the purpose of pain management — reducing the intensity of the birthing process.
Deep circular breathing is a simple tool that can be used anytime, anywhere. I advise many of my clients who sit in front of a computer all day to consciously breathe deep. The difference in their energy at the end of their work day is noticeable. It helps lower stress, increase energy, aid mental clarity, and infuse every cell in their being with the most precious element for the body – oxygen. The benefits of deep circular breathing are numerous. With regular practice, circular breathing will become your natural way of breathing. It will be relaxed, rhythmic, flowing, and open.
Sit back, relax, and inhale deeply through your nostrils, pulling that breath into the pit of your stomach. In doing so, you just sent a powerful dose of oxygen to your brain and every single cell in your body — enjoy!
