Breathing and health care go hand in hand. Breathing is a natural act that we perform autonomously and without conscious control. We can spend several days without eating, although less also some without drinking water, but not more than 3 minutes without breathing.

Types of Breathing

The thorax and abdomen allow three kinds of breathing:

• Abdominal, this is the most natural and simple breathing because it achieves the greatest capacity with minimal effort.
• Thoracic, allows the contraction and dilation of the middle part of the lungs. The best position to practice it is sitting and contracting the abdomen while being inspired.
• Clavicular breathing, has no advantages, is the breathing we do when we are distressed and only ventilates the highest and narrowest part of the lungs.

Full breathing includes all three types of breathing and ventilates the lungs in depth. Babies and young children breathe well and effortlessly. But, adults lose this right and healthy breathing pattern.

We give up abdominal breathing and over use the thoracic area and the pectoral and shoulder muscles to inhale.

Many of us are the ones who breathe badly, stress and anxiety, make us hold our breath and with this we increase fear and anxiety, due to the short intake of air. Breathing well is being healthy, by absorbing more oxygen we avoid problems such as asthma, chronic fatigue, migraines and headaches are relieved, circulation improves, as well as releasing accumulated tension, reducing anxiety and increasing our self-esteem.

Breathing and Healthcare: Emotions

Breathing is closely related to our emotional state. One of the first defense reactions we learn as children, is to hold your breath in situations of fear or stress. This reduces the body's energy as well as stimuli, suffering less.

Each emotion makes us breathe in a different way. But in addition, it also changes the expression of the face, body posture and muscle tension.

Many adults cannot make a deep abdominal breath, they make it thoracic. They live in constant alert, unable to disconnect from that state. A deep and relaxed breath, in intense emotional moments, helps us relax.

But also a poor respiratory dynamics in which the diaphragm cannot lower generates anguish. The diaphragm distributes energy throughout our body, helping to balance it. Open or close our conscious energy channel.

In addition to emotions, food, good digestion and physical exercise, are directly involved in breathing.

Tips to breathe well

Here are some tips to breathe correctly, follow them, since they are very simple: With your head straight and your shoulders back, take a deep breath through your nose (you will notice that your stomach swells), hold your breath for a few seconds. Slowly expel the air while the abdomen contracts and return to the initial position. Depending on the frequency of breathing you can achieve some benefits or others. If it is fast and rhythmic it gives us energy and if it is more leisurely it helps us to control stress and anxiety or has benefits in case of cardiovascular problems. It is advisable to take advantage of the first minutes of the day to oxygenate ourselves, we can make breathing exercises a healthy daily habit. Our physical and mental health will notice.

Breathing control techniques help us learn to use all the elements that make up the breath, the modes, processes and breathing styles.

Oriental cultures developed different relaxation techniques closely related to the breathing process. Many of these cultures have worked over time focusing on the conscious practice of breathing exercises attributing them religious, philosophical and healing purposes.

A very fast breathing increases emotional conflicts and if it becomes a routine it can also increase our fears. The correct way of breathing should create a balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide that avoids the negative effects

I advise you to take a look at the Natura Breathe 3.0, especially dedicated to these issues.

JOSEP MASDEU BRUFAL

Naturopath

Source: http://www.naturopatamasdeu.com/respiracion-y-cuidado-de-la-salud/

Breathing and Healthcare by Josep Masdeu Brufal