It’s spring. Enjoy life. Stop and smell the roses – or just take time to use your nose, mouth and lungs for cleansing and wellness. Deep breathing is known to lower blood pressure and release stress, along with numerous other healthy bene-fits.
Clinical hypnotherapist Bonnie Miller explains that deep breathing cleans blood as it removes carbon dioxide from the body and increases oxygen levels. “Remember that saying ‘out with the old, in with the new?’ As we breathe out the old air and take in new, fresh oxygen, we are regenerating our bodies, contributing to a better state of physical and mental well-being,” she says.
THE TECHNIQUE
The emphasis is on breathing deeply into the abdomen, not just the chest. Respiratory experts advise that deep breathing should be slow, deep and in through the nose, not the mouth.
Breathe in slowly; use your diaphragm to circulate oxygen through-out the lungs. Next, exhale slowly, pushing air out of your lungs. Exhaling should last twice as long as inhaling. Some find that breathing out with pursed lips works best, while others place their hands on their stomachs to feel the rise and fall of breathing in and out.
“Deep breathing is not something we can just start to do,” Miller emphasizes. “The technique takes some practice – try it several times a day when you are relaxed and have the time to focus.”
