Breathing Your Way to Better Health

Once upon a time, people knew how to breathe correctly. In fact, within our own lifetimes, each of us once knew the secret of proper breath. As babies, we naturally breathed through our noses, deeply filling our lungs, as our tummies rhythmically raised and lowered with the action of our diaphragms.

With age, and as a testament to the current Age, we have largely lost the truth of our breath, and our bodies, minds and spirits suffer. Through stress, and sometimes injury, our bodies shift and tighten to the point that deep breathing is restricted. All that remains is the shallowest breath with the minimum oxygen intake to keep our bodies functioning at the minimal level.

To put it simply, every part of our bodies need oxygen to function properly. Every cell, every tissue, and every organ yearns for oxygen. It is the catalyst that metabolizes the nutrients used by our cells.

When we don't get enough oxygen, our bodies and brains are sluggish. Nothing works as well as it should, and our spirits are dampened. We move and think slower so that our bodies can make the best use of the small oxygen reserves that it is receiving. If only we took in more oxygen, our bodies would be at liberty to function at their optimum efficiency.

Luckily, our bodies are already equipped with the ability to take in much larger volumes of oxygen than we normally experience. Our lungs and diaphragm work in perfect concert to flood our bodies with the right amount of energy-infusing oxygen. All we have to do is breathe deeply.

We should each take about four to seven breaths in any given minute. This slower pace gives us time to fill our lungs fully. To put this idea into practice, inhale for five seconds, and then exhale for five seconds. Don't pause or hold your breath during the process. Just allow your lungs to fill, starting down in your belly, then your ribs, and finally your chest. Then release it. You'll be breathing at an average of six breaths per minute, increasing your pulmonary capacity, and offering the life-giving gift of oxygen to all of your organs.

Breathing techniques and exercises like the one above can reduce stress by allowing the muscles to relax and the mind to clear. In this state, we are more connected to our bodies and minds, and we have opened the way to an easy and graceful spiritual connection. We have more energy and we are open to the creative flow around us. Deep breathing increases feelings of contentment and love, most especially self-love, giving us healing from grief, depression and anxiety and allowing us to work through a wide range of other personal issues.

Our breath is intimately connected with our lives. Every part of our beings, through the mind-body-spirit connection, are tied to the breath. Breathe deeply and fully to improve your health and every aspect of your life.