Top 8 Breathing Myths with the power to change your life
Breathing is one of those things we don't have to think about, or remind ourselves of, it just comes naturally. It's one of the most simplest things we do in a day. So all I ask of you is to use it more, and use it right - you’ve already got the foundation right.
8 Breathing Myths to be explained:
1. Breathing comes naturally - I don’t need to think about how I breathe
True, but. Just because breathing usually does not require any thought, and is controlled by the autonomic/involuntary nervous system, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. Over 90 percent of us are using less than 50 percent of our breathing capacity. To add, we often inhale shallowly, not fueling our blood and bodies with sufficient oxygen and energy.
The shallow inhale turns into a shorter exhale, which then releases only a small amount of carbon dioxide, keeping toxins and wastes in our blood streams and organs.
2. I’ve got other, more serious, issues to focus on prior my breath
Breathing can improve your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health - and it is right there. Sometimes, the simplest tool can be overlooked. But I promise you, to give some love and focus on your breath will change your health, your energy, and it will change your life.
3. Breathing will not improve how I feel
Stress, worrying, anxiety, emotional distress, tension can intensify by rapid, and/or shallow breathing. And as the levels of carbon dioxide increases in the body, over time, fatigue and depression can become long-lasting or chronic issues. Read about the top 17 benefits here
4. Animals don´t have to think about how to breathe - and I’m an animal so…
There are thoughts or ideas that say we are given not a certain number of years to live, but rather a number of breaths. The theory came about after observing animals and the length of their breath. Animals that have longer breathing cycles tend to live longer lives, and animals with shorter breathing cycles tend to live shorter lives. If true, then slowing down the length of our breaths could affect the length of our lives.
Animals in the wild are also pro´s on shifting between the parasympathetic and the sympathetic nervous system. After small bursts of “stress” in a predator-prey situation they quickly relax, yet aware of their surroundings. We don’t see chronic stress here. Whilst us humans, we too have the same nervous systems but we are not as good in shifting and/or regulating them to function optimally causing restricted breathing patterns, emotional and physical tension.
5. My breathing is great - I would know if it wasn’t so
Truth is that the majority don’t until their functioning lung capacity is below 70%. Regular “testing”, for example holding your breath during regular breathing for a certain length of time is a great check up. (this does not mean you need to hold the breath like a free diver - we are talking normal lung capacity)
6. The lungs are in my chest - this is where I should primarily breathe, not in the belly - that one is for food.
Chest breathing does not shift the diaphragm, which helps in the inspiration and expiration of air in and out of the lungs, which means your lungs will not have as much room to fill. Chest breathing doesn’t engage the lower part of the lungs, which has a greater volume than the upper part. Since you can not take in that much air - the breathing becomes quicker and shallower breath, resulting in lower oxygen levels (tidal volume) and less time for carbon dioxide to leave the body.
Chest breathing is associated with light-headedness, heart palpitations, weakness, numbness, tingling, agitation and overall shortness of breath. People with issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety disorders or phobias will have many of their symptoms exacerbated if they are “chest breathers”.
7. The breathing cant change - it is what it is
You take about 20.000 breaths a day. So you can practice a lot! And practice makes perfect ;) There are so many wonderful and efficient Breath work practices and techniques for calm, for energy, for anxiety, for restore…
8. Breathing is better through my mouth than breathing through my nose
This is a tricky one ;)
Long-term, everyday, chronic mouth breathing can be harmful to your health. It can lead to higher levels of inflammation, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. By shifting to nose breathing you can reduce or eliminate snoring and sleep apnea, which deprive the body of oxygen at night resulting in low energy levels which in turn can affect cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes.
Breathing through the nose creates an effective nitric oxide utilization, which can help to detox lungs and dilate blood vessels and internal organs allowing more oxygen to energize the body. Nose breathing also reduces stress and calms the mind.
However - there are Breathwork techniques where we consciously breathe through our mouth, during a shorter period of time, to quickly access our sympathetic nervous system and we can create a super efficient detox which is magical. It is my personal favorite practice, and it is the most effective medicine I know.
Questions or if you want to work on your breathing with me, I'm right here. You can work 1:1, join in group sessions or Breathe with your company to relieve stress and optimize performance and creativity.
