Breathing Techniques - How Can They Help You With Good Health?

Breathing is the most vital of all functions, one which ensures the body functions seamlessly. It also becomes so effortless that we do not make a conscious effort to breathe. However, if we learn to do it properly, good breathing techniques have multiple benefits, with improved efficiency being the most important. Those who have mastered the art of good breathing techniques, be it pranayama or otherwise, will vouch for this fact.

Some of the other benefits of learning good breathing techniques are:

1. Improved lung capacity
2. Improved circulation
3. Increased energy levels
4. Relaxes body and mind
5. Improves digestion
6. Improved sleep
7. Stress management
8. Reduces anxiety
9. Reduces migraine
10. Improves body function at a cellular level

When learning breathing techniques,

1. Be aware of your surroundings. Choose a quiet place
2. Be comfortable in terms of clothing and seating
3. Try to get it into a routine – same time of the day, each day
4. Build it into your pattern – helps ease stress.

Techniques: Listed below are some highly effective, tried and tested measures for improving breathing.

1. Deep breathing: Sitting in a comfortable position, keep one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Breathe in through your nose and exhale slowly. Feel the air move through the nose, windpipe, and into the lungs and the same way out. There should be a sense of peace filling your body as you do this. Doing this for 15 to 20 minutes daily can vastly improve lung capacity
2. Equalized breathing: The focus here is to provide an equal amount of time for filling in the lungs and exhaling it. Seated comfortably, try to breathe in, to your lung’s full capacity, by counting to a particular number (5 to 6). Similarly, try counting out and exhale. Repeat this for about 10 to 15 times.
3. Pranayama: In time-tested yoga, pranayama is the name for controlled, deep, relaxed breathing. Learning to control breathing also improves overall health and reduces stress. It helps to realize the flow of air through the body, which also leads to improved function at a cellular level.
4. Muscle relaxing breathing: In a lying down position, when breathing in, the feet and calf muscles are tensed. With breathing out, the same muscles are relaxed. With each cycle, the muscle group addressed should be moving from the legs, calves, abdomen, chest, arms, shoulders, neck, and face. This ensures the muscles are relaxed totally.
5. Modified Lion’s breath: When the lungs and abdomen are filled with air, then the air is released totally using an “aaahhh” sound.

Try these techniques to see your breathing efficiency and lung function increase. Your overall health will definitely increase.