Emphasis on proper breathing
You know that we live in a stressed and hectic world and this has great impacts upon our state of health and well-being. Once you've created a personal spiritual homespace, I heartily recommend that you spend some time and energy doing breath therapy with yourself. As a laughter yoga instructor, I've become aware of just how important proper breathing is. According to yogic philosophy, we are alive because the cosmic energy from the universe flows into our bodies through our breath (prana). So, the very essence of our lives is breathing.
Our problems with breathing correctly stem from our stressed and hectic environment. Impacted by this modern world's pressures, most of us begin to breathe very shallowly, using only the upper chest muscles, rather than having our breathing movements stem from our diaphragm. With this kind of shallow breathing, our bodies tend to lack the oxygen they need and this is especially true for our brains. Our lungs become filled with old, stale air that does not get flushed from our lungs because we are not breathing deeply and involving our diaphragms.
To correct our bad habit of this kind of breathing, we need to lay down in a quiet place and focus upon our breathing. In particular, we need to pay attention to the exhalation. When we exhale longer than we inhale, we can get rid of the old residual air in our lungs. Then when we inhale, we are bringing in fresh air to help our body get fully oxygenated. In yogic breathing, there are techniques used that teach people to exhale longer by connecting with their diaphragms and contracting their abdominal muscles. But just by taking a few moments to be aware of our breathing pattern (easiest observed when lying prone) and gradually changing the length of the exhalation, we can begin to correct our shallow breathing patterns.
It's a simple thing, but it requires the commitment of a little time and focus. You may want to incorporate this breath therapy at the beginning or end of your quiet time with yourself. If you are pressed for time, it may be that breath therapy is all you can do. Remember that It is also a great tool to use through out the day. Just slow down for a couple of moments and take some deep breaths, with your diaphragm fully engaged. When you find yourself in any stressful situation, you may want to use it to help yourself maintain inner calm.
Enjoy proper breathing and practice it regularly. You will feel the benefits immediately because by engaging your diaphragm in breath therapy, you are stimulating the calming branch of your nervous system. VOILA! The perfect antidote to your stress and hectic life. Good health to you!
Check out my website at: www.laughwithcydney.net for information about laughter yoga, an active way to bring spiritual time into your life. In laughter yoga, we work on breathing properly to improve our health and well-being.
You know that we live in a stressed and hectic world and this has great impacts upon our state of health and well-being. Once you've created a personal spiritual homespace, I heartily recommend that you spend some time and energy doing breath therapy with yourself. As a laughter yoga instructor, I've become aware of just how important proper breathing is. According to yogic philosophy, we are alive because the cosmic energy from the universe flows into our bodies through our breath (prana). So, the very essence of our lives is breathing.
Our problems with breathing correctly stem from our stressed and hectic environment. Impacted by this modern world's pressures, most of us begin to breathe very shallowly, using only the upper chest muscles, rather than having our breathing movements stem from our diaphragm. With this kind of shallow breathing, our bodies tend to lack the oxygen they need and this is especially true for our brains. Our lungs become filled with old, stale air that does not get flushed from our lungs because we are not breathing deeply and involving our diaphragms.
To correct our bad habit of this kind of breathing, we need to lay down in a quiet place and focus upon our breathing. In particular, we need to pay attention to the exhalation. When we exhale longer than we inhale, we can get rid of the old residual air in our lungs. Then when we inhale, we are bringing in fresh air to help our body get fully oxygenated. In yogic breathing, there are techniques used that teach people to exhale longer by connecting with their diaphragms and contracting their abdominal muscles. But just by taking a few moments to be aware of our breathing pattern (easiest observed when lying prone) and gradually changing the length of the exhalation, we can begin to correct our shallow breathing patterns.
It's a simple thing, but it requires the commitment of a little time and focus. You may want to incorporate this breath therapy at the beginning or end of your quiet time with yourself. If you are pressed for time, it may be that breath therapy is all you can do. Remember that It is also a great tool to use through out the day. Just slow down for a couple of moments and take some deep breaths, with your diaphragm fully engaged. When you find yourself in any stressful situation, you may want to use it to help yourself maintain inner calm.
Enjoy proper breathing and practice it regularly. You will feel the benefits immediately because by engaging your diaphragm in breath therapy, you are stimulating the calming branch of your nervous system. VOILA! The perfect antidote to your stress and hectic life. Good health to you!
Check out my website at: www.laughwithcydney.net for information about laughter yoga, an active way to bring spiritual time into your life. In laughter yoga, we work on breathing properly to improve our health and well-being.