correct breathing is one of the vital element of a healthy living. if you are can breathe correctly then you will gain many emotional and health benefits. it is good for your nervous system, digestive system, immunity, respiratory system, urinary system, concentration and mental well being. it makes you relaxed and happier.
in yoga and meditation, lot of emphasis is given on correct breathing. because breathing is the medium for prana (life force). also read – breath watching meditation
in case you are breathing incorrectly then don’t worry. with conscious effort you can correct it in few days. its not difficult. because correct breathing is more spontaneous and natural to you. you just need some effort on your part to correct the breathing. in fact to breathe incorrectly you are putting effort and energy.
how to breathe correctly:
1. abdomen should rise when you inhale
when you inhale then your abdomen should rise. this is one of the simple method to check whether your breathing is correct or not. so you can sit comfortably, close your eyes and put your hands on your abdomen. now breathe normally. if on inhalation, your abdomen rises then your breathing is correct. on exhalation, the abdomen should fall back.
another way to check correct breathing is to see how small children breathe. because their breathing is always correct. because of mental pressure, tension, anxiety or unhealthy living style we start breathing incorrectly. but thats not the case with small kids. observe a child when he is sleeping or lying down and see how his stomach rises when he inhales. moreover, their breathing is very deep.
so what is the incorrect breathing – when your abdomen falls (instead of rising) during inhalation.
2. breathe through nose
never breathe from mouth. always breathe from nose. again it has many health benefits like more oxygen intake and good for your lungs. moreover, nasal passage does a better job of filtering the air as it enters the lungs.
3. deep breathing
lastly, the breathing should be deep. some people unknowingly do shallow breathing. their breathe only reaches till their chest. deep breathing will help you to relax and it also has many health benefits.
once you are breathing correctly then next step you can do is to plant trees in your locality. so that you breathe lot of fresh and clean air.