Tuesday, 28 October 2014

Diaphragmatic Breathing

What is Diaphragmatic Breathing? You may have been introduced to this before... 

Basically it's breathing through your diaphragm (lower area of lung and ribs), rather than your chest. Why is it something we should do? When you breath through your diaphragm it promotes your nervous system to relax and slow down, which helps to nourish your entire body, so it can run better you can also focus and concentrate better.

If you notice when you are in fight or flight mode, your body automatically starts breathing through your chest, which helps to trigger all of the symptoms of survival.

One way I can easily get into Diaphragmatic Breathing is to stand or lay down and place one hand just above my belly button and the other on my chest. Try breathing into one hand and then the other. Pay attention to each option and how it makes your feel and affects your breath.

One way to help you to know the difference is to try and expand the ribs in a deep long breath. You should feel a slow and deeper breath, then what you achieve by only upper chest breathing. Thinking about expanding is the key. And just breathe normally, in and out of the nose, no pauses  or sounds.

Then, throughout the day you can make 'breathing checks' to see if you need to calm and relax a bit and establish the diaphragmatic breathing again. Little by little you will train your body. It will certainly help with your overall health and well being.

I hope this helps you. Let me know what you think...