Many of you may already know breathing techniques. Some of you even use them, maybe even regularly. There are numerous breathing techniques in use, and many of them come from the practice of Yoga or other ancient arts such as Chi Gong (Qui Qong). The benefits of proper breathing practices are so numerous they may seem like “snake oil” to some.
I will list a few links to some of the web sites I found most relative for my purposes, but you may certainly do your own web search and explore for yourselves. There are hundreds of books on this topic and if you prefer to explore them, I would certainly recommend that you do.
I like simple. In everything I do, I like simple. So I am going to share with you my version of simple breathing that was “given” to me. It is not the end all be all of proper breathing, but it is very easy to do and very beneficial in more ways than you can imagine.
Disclaimer:
In order for me to cover the bases, and prevent any frivolous law suits, I must state that if you have breathing problems you should seek competent medical advice. Any claims to healing benefits of breathing exercises are not expressed in the legal sense of that term. In the real world of illusion that we live in, it has great healthful benefit. Many medical facilities use various breathing exercises, many doctors and hospitals recommend them for all sorts of maladies and breathing difficulties including asthma. I am not suggesting that anyone not seek acceptable medical help if they feel they have a medical problem.
The following link is very closely related to the breath that I use most frequently. It is calming, clearing, and for me very spiritual. It will be for you what you wish.
“To do yoga belly breathing properly you should allow your lungs to fill from the bottom up, this will assure you of maximum air penetration and absorption. The lungs lay just behind the rib cage and are attached to the ribs, they are therefore pulled open and closed by them. If you are breathing only with the top half of the chest, the top of your lungs will open first so that the air fills them only up at the very top. If on the other hand you push your belly out as you inhale you will expand your diaphragm first. The lower ribs will then push out and open the lower portion of the lung first. The air will then rush down into them to fill the vacuum there and so fills your whole lung chamber from the bottom to the top. When you exhale, you are in effect reversing the process, by pulling the belly in at the end of the exhalation. This last movement pushes the air complexly out of the lower portion of your lungs and so pushes all the toxins of the used air out of your lungs.”
I suggest that you sit comfortably, relaxed but sitting straight up with your feet comfortably on the floor, your hands relaxed in your lap. Palms down or palms up, it does not matter. Most of us breathe very shallowly from the upper part of our lungs. We breathe in short inadequate breaths to really oxygenate our bodies properly. Begin by just taking a normal (probably very shallow) breath and then gently push the outbreath a bit more than you usually would. Do that again. And a third time.
Next take another in breath a bit deeper than normal and as you expel it push it out a little bit more than you did in the last 3 breaths. I want you to take notice of what your belly is doing. Is it “sucking in” while you are taking the big breath and pushing out somewhat when you exhale? That is the way most normally breath. Keep your shoulders and neck relaxed.
Shake your hands and raise and lower your shoulders a couple of times to be more relaxed. Now we will begin the real breathing.
Now take a big deep breath and when you can take no more in, let it out in one big burst of out breath. That was the get ready breath. Now we are going to take in a big slow breath counting to 7 as you take it in (don’t worry if you can’t quite reach 7, you will after you practice for awhile). When you have taken in the deep breath, I then want you to hold it for a count of 7 before you exhale. After the holding for 7 counts, I want you to slowly exhale to the count of 7, and I want you to totally push all of that air out of your lungs. Here is what your belly should be doing to assist you in fully filling up and fully expelling your breath: On the in breath, concentrate on pushing your belly out, not sucking it in, then as you exhale you will be sucking the belly in to push out the full volume of air you took in. When you first try this it may seem that it is a bit like trying to rub your belly while patting the top of your head at the same time. But it really comes to you very quickly if you concentrate a little on it.
All breathing exercises as I practice them are done in sets of 3’s. Breath in and out in the manner described above 3 complete cycles.
I would encourage you to do this 3 times a day, three sets of three slow deep breaths, but even only once a day will produce great benefits. I told you it was simple. Just try it. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t feel you are doing it properly. Just keep trying it and you will get it. Over time, you will find that you can take in and expel your breath to a much longer count than 7 if you wish. You will be increasing your lung capacity, releasing a much greater volume of “used” air, and it is very relaxing as well as invigorating.
If you have breathing exercises you would like to recommend or that you use and your experiences with them, please share them with us. This is just one way. There are thousands.
Breathe well and let the living breath of the Universe fill your body, your heart, your soul and all that you are.
[It has been suggested that I might post a diary on ” alternative healing” and I do not know what interest there might be for such a topic here. Let me know if you have an interest and I will be glad to give you my views on such, with your participation of any of the hundreds of techniques you may be familiar with or practice yourselves.]
Links to Breathing healthy
Discovery Health
Sam Houston State University
Meditation and Breathing