Breathing
Effective breathing is regular, deep and relaxed. Anxiety, congestion and fatigue can prevent proper breathing. These impediments can develop into a cyclic worsening of symptoms, requiring medical intervention. Improper posture, lack of muscle tone and obesity are other causes of improper breathing.
Proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide on the internal (alveolar) surfaces of the lungs is absolutely necessary for good health. The more the lungs expand, the greater the surface area of gas exchange. Smoking and air pollutants degrade the internal surfaces of the lungs. This diminishes the effectiveness of gas exchange and decreases the available energy to the body by hindering metabolism and operation of body systems.
Developing an awareness of your breathing can be a first step to better health. While yoga is a wonderful method for developing an awareness of breathing, it is not the only method. Simply adjusting your posture when sitting, for example, can have a noticeable positive effect. Extending the spine upwards, pulling the shoulders back and raising the chin will give you an immediate experience of better expansion of your chest when you breathe in. If you work at a computer, lifting the monitor or placing a notebook on a riser can help. It also helps to take occasional moments to readjust your posture.
When walking, the head should be held up. Staring at the pavement restricts your airway. Imagine that you are pulling your head up from the top of your skull and extend you spine. Do not hunch your shoulders, allow them to relax. Allow your attention to take in your surroundings at eye level and above. I think you will find that your pace will seem easier to maintain. You will feel more energetic.
Meditation, based on focusing on your breathing to clear your mind, is another way to be aware of your breathing. When meditating, relax your shoulders and keep your chin elevated slightly. Relax your jaw. Allow the air to flow in and out of your body naturally. Gradually, you will feel your body relaxing and your breathing coming easier. By focusing on your exhalations whenever your mind begins to wander, you will maintain your relaxation. Doing this for fifteen minutes once or twice a day will bring you an immediate result of greater energy and a calmer disposition. This is not magic. It can be explained by neuroscience and metabolic science: Relaxation of segments of the body's nervous system and proper aeration of the blood stream.
Nothing is more elemental to a daily practice for good health than proper breathing. Anyone who has had pneumonia or asthma will testify to this. Meditation and daily exercise are good ways to maintain proper breathing. Walking is an excellent exercise for practicing proper breathing and engaging in your environment. No matter how out of shape or disabled you may be, learning to breathe properly is a first step to rehabilitation.
Humanism, by rejecting a complacent acceptance of Fate or human powerlessness, can promote the pursuit of individually powerful and scientific ways to maintain personal health and well being. Good health and intelligence are not matters of predestination, economic class or genetics alone. Mindful living with ongoing study and practice can effectively enhance any life.
Proper exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide on the internal (alveolar) surfaces of the lungs is absolutely necessary for good health. The more the lungs expand, the greater the surface area of gas exchange. Smoking and air pollutants degrade the internal surfaces of the lungs. This diminishes the effectiveness of gas exchange and decreases the available energy to the body by hindering metabolism and operation of body systems.Developing an awareness of your breathing can be a first step to better health. While yoga is a wonderful method for developing an awareness of breathing, it is not the only method. Simply adjusting your posture when sitting, for example, can have a noticeable positive effect. Extending the spine upwards, pulling the shoulders back and raising the chin will give you an immediate experience of better expansion of your chest when you breathe in. If you work at a computer, lifting the monitor or placing a notebook on a riser can help. It also helps to take occasional moments to readjust your posture.
When walking, the head should be held up. Staring at the pavement restricts your airway. Imagine that you are pulling your head up from the top of your skull and extend you spine. Do not hunch your shoulders, allow them to relax. Allow your attention to take in your surroundings at eye level and above. I think you will find that your pace will seem easier to maintain. You will feel more energetic.
Meditation, based on focusing on your breathing to clear your mind, is another way to be aware of your breathing. When meditating, relax your shoulders and keep your chin elevated slightly. Relax your jaw. Allow the air to flow in and out of your body naturally. Gradually, you will feel your body relaxing and your breathing coming easier. By focusing on your exhalations whenever your mind begins to wander, you will maintain your relaxation. Doing this for fifteen minutes once or twice a day will bring you an immediate result of greater energy and a calmer disposition. This is not magic. It can be explained by neuroscience and metabolic science: Relaxation of segments of the body's nervous system and proper aeration of the blood stream.
Nothing is more elemental to a daily practice for good health than proper breathing. Anyone who has had pneumonia or asthma will testify to this. Meditation and daily exercise are good ways to maintain proper breathing. Walking is an excellent exercise for practicing proper breathing and engaging in your environment. No matter how out of shape or disabled you may be, learning to breathe properly is a first step to rehabilitation.
Humanism, by rejecting a complacent acceptance of Fate or human powerlessness, can promote the pursuit of individually powerful and scientific ways to maintain personal health and well being. Good health and intelligence are not matters of predestination, economic class or genetics alone. Mindful living with ongoing study and practice can effectively enhance any life.
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