Breathing. It’s the most fundamental of all bodily functions. Without air, we don’t survive for very long. It occurs without conscious effort, and yet, adapts like a speedily increasing heart rate, to changing circumstances. Unlike our heart rates however, we are able to modify our breathing rate to suit our needs and desires. That’s great when we are making a conscious effort to breathe more deeply than average. But what about the rest of the time?
Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about breathing. Work, bills, kids, and life can get in the way of focusing on this most personal of endeavors. And that’s easy to understand – as we sit at a desk, there isn’t an apparent deep bodily need for a lot of extra oxygen. But at the same time, flooding our bodies with extra air creates a sense of wakefulness. It can perk one right up at the time that afternoon drowsiness begins to settle in. Breathing deeply expands the ribcage and stimulates bloodflow around the vital organs.
Unlike stretching, which provides some of the same benefits, breathwork can be done anywhere. It doesn’t require floor space and a mat. But it does require that you remember to do it, because if you’re not exercising quite vigorously, it can be hard to remember to modify your automatic functions. But the benefits, which also include stress reduction and increased mental acuity, make this an ideal addition to your daily routine. Be sure to take the personal time to breathe deeply a half dozen times each day. In short order, this healthy practice will become habit.
