Proper Breathing

We breathe without thinking. About 18 times a minute, 1,080 times an hour, about 26,000 breaths a day. But have you ever really thought about your breath? Probably not, so take your time to ask yourself the following questions:

Do you:

  • Breathe predominantly in your chest?
  • Breathe flat and fast?
  • Get tired quickly?
  • Often wake up tired in the morning?
  • Sometimes feel like you can't breathe properly?
  • Get out of breath quickly?

Do you breathe more than 15 times a minute when you are at rest?

If you answered "Yes" to more than one question, it's time to pay more attention to your breath. Most people breathe incorrectly. They just move stale air back and forth between the airways instead of supplying lungs and blood circulation with new oxygen. As a result, organs and tissues receive a poor supply of with oxygen. This impairs cell metabolism and the immune system. As a result, we become more susceptible to illness and poor quality of life. Feelings of illness, fatigue, weakness and listlessness can stem from lack of oxygen, shortness of breath and bad breathing habits.

Free your breath, increase your lust for life

Breathing is one of the most important sources of strength. If you breathe correctly, you can better able to meet the challenges of everyday life, prevent illness and feel more alive and alert.

When breathing, you inhale oxygen into your lungs and release carbon dioxide when you exhale. The oxygen passes from the lungs into the entire body. The blood transports it into every cell of the body, no matter how far away. The used blood is then transported back to the lungs, where carbon dioxide, an acid, is released and fresh oxygen is once again absorbed.

When we are well supplied with oxygen, our blood circulates better in the veins, which strengthens body cells and circulation. With every deep breath, the breathing apparatus found between the ribs and the lumbar spine -- our diaphragm -- swings along. This gently massages the organs in the abdomen and stimulates digestion. Proper breathing gives your skin elasticity and clarity. With correct breathing, the brain is better supplied with blood and becomes more efficient.

Bridge the outside world to the inside world

It is important to learn to free your breath and let it flow into your abdomen. This is possible because breathing is a bodily function that is both automatic and can be controlled by you. It is a bridge between the conscious and unconscious functions of the body and your deeper feelings. The breath may say more about your feelings than you might want to admit to yourself, which is why breathing exercises are at the heart of most self-reflection methods, yoga, qigong and singing classes. Proper breathing is the basis for a harmonious relationship among mind, soul and body. We already know how important breathing is, because it's so often reflected on what we say:

  • When scared, we hold our breath.
  • We breathe a sigh of relief
  • We pant from appointment to appointment
  • We gasp from a breathtaking event
  • We need to take a deep breath
  • We are out of breath
  • We cannot breathe

Trace the waves of your breath!

The conscious experience of breathing not only ensures better ventilation of your body, but also a more open attitude toward life and your emotions. Just try it in the evening when you are lying in bed: Lie on your back, breathe deeply in and out of the abdominal cavity, land ay your hands flat on your stomach to feel your abdominal wall slowly descending and rising. Think of the gentle waves that come and go on the beach. In the same way, let your breath come and go: Leave it to your own rhythm. Trust your breath. Exhaling is especially important because it creates space for fresh air and at the same time helps you to remove acids from your body.

Another plus: Correct breathing automatically ensures a good posture!