Breathing. It’s the most essential part of life. If you lose a limb – you’ll survive. If you damage your spinal cord – you’ll survive. But if you can’t breathe – you DIE. It’s a fairly simple concept, but aside from pointing out the blatantly obvious, it is amazing how underestimated and neglected the act of Breathing is in relation to our health.
Are you breathing correctly?
It’s been found that on average, a person breathes at a rate of around 25,900 times per day. By not performing it correctly (which most people are not) it has a direct affect on the rest of your body – physically and emotionally.
Unfortunately, nearly every client I’ve coached, has what’s known as an Inverted Breathing Pattern – that is, they breathe the opposite of what they should. One thing many practitioners may try to correct is poor Posture through stretches and exercise – but without ever assessing and addressing the breathing pattern! Instead of inhaling (from the nose) the first two thirds of breath from the belly (diaphragm), and the last third from the chest, most people are mouth breathers. They suck in their belly button and breathe from the Chest.
How it affects you
Poor breathing is a symptom of significant forms of stress including and not independantly of: Emotions, Poor Nutrition, Abdominal Wall Dysfunction (weak inner abdominals), Pregnancy, Pilates Class (in which inverted breathing is taught) and old-school breathing patterns learned in the Gym. The result of an Inverted Breathing Pattern leads to a myriad of reactions throughout the body. Consider it a chain-reaction. Firstly, it places an overload on the respiratory muscles, making them short and tight. This reduces oxygen of the blood triggering negative physcological and physiological effects in the body – because it thinks its DYING! This type of stressed state (otherwise known as a Sympathetic State) is what is known as “fight or flight” syndrome. Now that’s okay if you’re running from a Lion, but if you’re constantly trying to sprint every second of the day - that Lion’s going to catch up with you! Naturally where we want to be, is in a relaxed state (Parasympathetic), maintaining an optimal breathing pattern. This will aid in digestion, elimination, your ability to detoxify, your recovery from exercise, help to improve posture and will decrease your stress by balancing out the Autonomic Nervous System.
Flick the switch
Lets visualize that your breath/your energy/your chi/your Life Force is like switching on the batteries to the rest of your body. Ultimately you need to circulate that Life Force around entirely, for it to work to its full potential.
An important thing to remember while you breathe, is that your tongue should always rest on the roof of the mouth (when you swallow, it should automatically sit there). Not only will this assist in deeper breathing by facilitating diaphragmatic breathing, but the tongue is the energetic link between two of the primary energy meridians of the body (known as the Governing and Conception Vessels). By operating the switch, you activate the circuit from the tongue, down the front of the body, around the rectum and back up the spine and over the head. If the tongue isn’t down, it’s like the battery is switched off! It also acts like a type of locking mechanism, which aids in supporting the head musculature and postural muscles (particularly good to remember whilst doing crunches or sit-ups).
Correcting your breathing
Once you’re breathing optimally, it will be pumping blood around your body more efficiently, massaging all of your internal organs and leaving you with many improved physiological and psychological benefits. Obviously due to the extent we breathe on a daily basis, it won’t be corrected with just a few sessions. However by incorporating it into your daily routine – via specific stretching, exercise, meditation, Real Food nutrition and removing other stressors from your life, you will be taking an important step forward in improving your physical and emotional health.
Pay particular attention to the first exercise in the clip. The Longitudinal Lie is easy to implement as part of your daily routine, with a myriad of positive results! Focus on your breathing, be present and remove tension in your mind and body. May your Life Force be with you!
