Inhale. Exhale. Oxygen is essential for our everyday life. Oxygen gives our body the ability to break down food and obtain the energy we need to survive reports AMNH. It constructions replacement cells, helps kill bacteria, and is an essential part of our immune system say Vitality Medical. You would be surprised to know; you probably aren’t getting enough oxygen throughout the day. Breathing exercises allow us to intake more oxygen to better serve our body and mind.
Think about it, maybe you are a receptionist, a writer, or driving truck, whatever your profession, majority of us are sitting for the better part of our days. Naturally our bodies know to breath (we do it without even thinking about it), but when you are sitting, your body is at rest, taking slow, shallow breaths.
The benefits of breathwork come from long, deep breaths. That is why we feel more energized when exercising, walking, or just moving around. It’s also why people tell us to take a deep breath when feeling anxious or stressed.
How we got started
About two years ago, I started a daily breathing practice with my boyfriend, Nick. We par-take in these exercises, usually immediately upon waking up and we strive not to miss a day (but life happens).
Nick and I stumbled across mindful breathing when we discovered Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete, Wim Hof. This man is truly inspiring and has challenged us to test our bodies in ways most people wouldn’t. Like doing cold plunges in the ocean in the middle of winter (but that’s a story for another day).
These are so many benefits to engaging in a daily breathing practice with some big ones including stress management, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function.
Benefits of breathing exercises
Breathing for stress relief
Chronic stress can be a serious threat to our health especially affecting our immune response says Wim Hof. Stress increases inflammation which can lead to a number of health concerns.
REad more about how you can fight inflammation
ByTake a deep breath.
According to researchers in this article, deep breathing puts your body in a state of relaxation that is beneficial to both your mental and physical health.
Conscious breathing calms the nervous system, releasing tension and stress hormones reports Michigan Medicine.
Personally, I believe breathing to be a form of meditation, like in yoga. By simply focusing on your inhalation and exhalation, you are practically meditating.
Breathing exercises when stress or anxious are going to help encourage your body to relax. Be sure to breathe through your nose and not your mouth for optimal benefits.
Breathing for cognitive function
Did you ever notice how we inhaul right before performing a task? Yea, that is your brain looking for an extra boost to get the job done.
Reported in How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life, voluntarily slowing your breathing has a direct effect on the activity level of your brain. Better brain activity can lead to better concentration, mental clarity, and memory.
When you are stressed, noradrenaline neurotransmitter (or your fight or flight response) will release an overabundance of hormones obstructing your ability to focus. On the flip side, not enough of these hormones can cause sluggishness, memory problems, and decreased alertness proclaims Green. She also states, the practice of breathing regulates noradrenaline levels and keeps you in a clear state of mind.
Breathing for cardiovascular health
An array of research backs the correlation between breathwork and cardiovascular health, specifically, lower blood pressure.
An increase in oxygen makes your heart work a little harder, which is actually a good thing. Greater lung capacity is associated with a lower risk for cardiovascular disease says Nick Heath.
But because our muscles waste away as we age, training the muscles of the heart and lungs can be hugely beneficial to long term health and reduce blood pressure.
Aubrey, in accordance with this research, says the endothelial cells encourage the production of nitric oxide, a key compound protecting the heart. Nitric oxide is responsible for promoting good blood flow and preventing plaque buildup.
Other benefits
If these reasons aren’t enough to convince you to start adding conscious breathing into your daily routine here are a few more reasons.
Actively intaking more oxygen helps you sleep better, reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, gives you energy, is naturally detoxing and so much more.
How to get started
To get started I recommend the video we use daily. Wim Hof’s 10-minute guided session on YouTube!
One thing I am sure if is we definitely take breathing for granted. It’s only when we are at risk of not getting our next breath that we realize how vital and important breathing really is. Next time you are stressed, try taking 5 consecutive deep breaths and I bet you will feel better in no time!
This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. That being said, I only recommend products I love and trust.
[…] Relaxation techniques such as meditation or mindful breathing has been helpful in decreasing stress, anxiety, depression and negative emotions says HelpGuide.org. Read more about daily breathing exercises to enhance your zen and focus. […]