Proper Breathing Posture and Techniques

Breathing Postures

*Sedentary Lifestyle and  Shallow Breathing— Although breathing shallowly  can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle, it also has other reasons. Poor posture may also attribute to shallow breathing. In proper posture, the rib cage sits directly over the hips and forms one column. This closes the rib cage and compresses the lungs. The above diagram can  offer the proper and improper illustrations.

*Breathing Exercises — Most people do not understand how to breathe properly. You can help yourself by doing breathing exercises designed to stimulate proper breathing technique and thus increase your blood oxygen levels.
One of these exercises is as followed: Sit upright on the edge of a hard chair. Do not allow your arms or back to slump against anything. Place one hand on your upper abdomen and one hand on your lower abdomen. Begin slowly breathing in and focus on filling up with air from the bottom up. Your lower hand should start expanding first, followed by your upper hand then; you should feel the middle of your chest open and finally the top. Your shoulder should not move at all. Breathe in slowly and smoothly. Hold for a couple of seconds and breath out slowly. This releases tension  and promotes healthy lung tissue. Repeat this exercise three times. Every day, add one more repetition. In time, you may do this a few times a day as your lungs handle the increased oxygen load to the cells. Eventually, as your lungs are able to handle this; adding an ‘mechanical aid’ to help slowly increase your oxygen intake to your lungs, using a ‘spirometer’, Healthy lungs will become a beacon of health to your body.

To Your Healthy Lungs,
Marie