The Gift of Vital Breath

What can you do at this very moment to condition your body for peak performance?

You can learn how to breathe properly!

Without oxygen, our bodies would immediately shut down. Simply put, your cells need to get enough oxygen in order for you to stay healthy.

Read on to learn more about the gift of vital breath.

You probably think you already know how to breathe. After all, you’ve been doing it your whole life. But most people don’t know the correct breathing techniques. They breathe from their chests, which leads to shallow breathing.

To breathe properly, you must use your diaphragm, which is the layer of muscle that separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity. When you breathe properly, your diaphragm contracts, and your belly protrudes. This is what allows the lunges to fully expand and fill up with air.Shallow breathing means your lungs get only the minimum amount of air. When this happens, our bodies end up under-oxygenated. Here are just some of the side effects of shallow breathing:

• Chronic fatigue and lower energy
• Chest pains and heart palpitations suggestive of heart disease
• Tingling or numbness in the arms, legs and hands
• Aches in the neck, shoulders and back
• Stomach problems
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Dissociation and derealisation, or feelings that the external world is unreal
• Nightmares and night sweats

In order to get the maximum benefits of the air you breathe in, you need to learn how to breathe while using proper technique. You need to learn to breathe with your diaphragm.

To train yourself to breathe properly, try this breathing technique from Tony Robbins’ Living Health Programme. All you need to do is to take 10 Power Breaths 3 times every day. This is how to take 1 Power Breath:

INHALE for 10 counts (inhale while counting silently from 1-10)
HOLD for 40 counts (hold your breath while counting silently from 1-40)
EXHALE for 20 counts (exhale while counting silently from 1-20)

That completes 1 power breath.

Power Breathing, and deep breathing in general, has many benefits. Here are just some of the benefits you will experience when you make a habit of proper breathing:

• Increased concentration, which leads to better productivity
• Increased energy levels
• Increased oxygen flow in the body
• Sharper mind
• More oxygen in your blood. This allows your body to perform at optimal levels
• This is also the fastest way to alkalise the body

Depending on where you are, and what you’re doing, you might want to choose an alternative breathing exercise. Thankfully, there are many breathing exercises that can help you breathe deeply.

For example, the following breathing technique by Wim Hof is an effective way to reduce stress and regulate your body chemistry. According to Wim Hof, this technique can even help alkalise your body!

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the Gift of Vital Breath. Remember: at Whistle Clean Australia, we don’t just keep you clean; we care about your health, too.

Stay tuned for our next article. We will discuss other interesting topics.

Photo credits: freepik.com