Proper Deep Breathing - Ahhhhhhh...

Working, mothering, fathering, and all the other responsibilities we have can take a toll and cause a lot of stress and wear and tear on your body. Dealing with stress on a daily basis is a life skill because of the enormous impact that it has on our mental, physical, and emotional health.


Deep breathing and the rest it brings is essential to releasing stress and maintaining a healthy body and mind.
The problem is, most of us don't take the time to breathe deeply or correctly. We rob ourselves of the rest and relaxation proper deep breathing can bring.

So how do you breathe properly?

I love to practice deep breathing at the end of my Yoga/Pilates classes. But, really, you can do it anywhere and anytime.

1. You want to try to straighten and relax your body. If possible, remove any constrictive clothing and lie down.

2. Breathe in through your nose, and expand your abdomen until it arches upward and outward. At this point you have lowered your diaphragm and completely aerated the lower lobes of your lungs.
3. When this part of the breath has ended, breathe in further and expand your chest. This opens the second stage of a deep breath and earates the upper or super lobes of your lungs. Do this slowly and gradually, until the full expansion of your lungs is achieved.
4. Breathe out through your mouth. Let your stomach deflate and try to empty all the air out of your abdomen.
Focus on not causing tension in your shoulders or rib cage. If you're inhaling with your rib cage, you are not taking in air as much as you could if you inhale with your diaphragm. When you exhale, you should allow your diaphragm muscle to move up to push the air out.
Now go try it before you forget. The best way to remember something is to do it. Enjoy deep breathing and try to do this 3-5 times a day. It is going to feel sooooooo good!

To Your Relaxation,
Cara