Would you like a quick, easy, and free way to promote your health and well-being?
Guess what? You already have it. Like most of us, you’re probably just not using it to your benefit.
What is it? Breathing. In particular, diaphragmatic breathing.
According to Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., if he could give just one tip that would promote health, it would be to breathe properly.
Yes, breathing deeply and slowly absolutely promotes health and well being. On the other hand, breathing in a rapid and shallow manner can be detrimental to your health and well-being. We’ll get to these topics later.
What is diaphragmatic breathing?
Quite simply, it is breathing deeply enough so your diaphragm moves.
The diaphragm is the major muscle of breathing. It forms a flexible and moving floor, like a trampoline, for the lungs. As the diaphragm moves, it creates huge changes within your body/mind.
When the breath moves the diaphragm, we are able to take in oxygen to the full capacity of our lungs and breathe out waste products. This allows body/mind to function at the highest level.
The gentle movement of the diaphragm massages a nerve in the abdominal cavity which activates the calming, restorative, parasympathetic nervous system. So, we feel more relaxed and calm.
Respiration/breathing is under voluntary and involuntary control. This is great news. It means that we breathe automatically without having to think about it. It also means that we can change how we breathe, if we so choose.
Imagine the natural, effortless breathing of a baby or dog or cat. We are born with a natural ability to breathe in this easy, full, relaxed way.
Over time, with life, this healthy way of breathing is replaced by rapid, shallow breathing. We respond to many life events by becoming braced and guarded, breathing becomes rapid and shallow.
You can feel if your diaphragm is moving by placing a hand on your abdomen, in the area of the belly button. Your hand will give you feedback as your belly moves in and out.
Try it and see how you feel:
- Place one hand on your chest and the other over your abdomen, in the area around your belly button.
- Relax your abdominal muscles.
- Start with the out-breath. Just notice the breath. Feel the breath move your hands.
- You should feel movement with the belly hand, while the chest hand remains relatively still.
- As you breathe, feel your belly move in and out.
- Keep these words in mind: effortless, easy, slow, deep.
More on breathing in my next post.
Until then-
Take care,
Kate
