Breathing is..

...the first requisite of life. It’s also one of the foundations of true physical fitness and of a uniformly developed, healthy body. Many of us labour under the handicap of breathing in the soot-saturated air of our cities, and almost all of us have never learned the correct art of breathing. 

Breathing is the process by which our bodies produce energy, taking in FRESH air (oxygen) and expelling carbon dioxide as WASTE.

Imagine your LUNGS: They are coated and protected by a ciliated (covered in teeny tiny hairs) membrane which also handily secretes a mucous. These hairs and mucous trap and deliver any dust, dirt or particles in the lungs back up through the windpipe and the nose to be removed by sneezing, coughing or blowing the nose.

If these cilia become damaged through city life (smoking, long-term inhalation of dust or other foreign particles), lung infection and disease is never far away. 

If you could, wouldn’t you do everything in your power to make sure that your lungs are operating as efficiently as possible? 

You can, by learning how to breathe properly. 

BREATHING EXERCISE:

Start by standing erect, opening out your chest and rolling your shoulders back. Squeeze every atom of air out of your lungs - imagining you’d just untied a couple of balloons filled with air, and were squeezing them with your hands to expel all the air. 

This action will probably double you over a bit so, once all the air is gone, stand erect again and notice how your fabulous lungs, automatically refill themselves with fresh air.

Note, too, the impact of this exercise. You’ll have experienced a slight sensation of lightheadedness, similar to the effect you’d experience engaging in walking up a very high mountain. This will be the rush of oxygen you’ve just injected into your system. Keep practicing this technique and this side effect should disappear. 

In fact, come to a QPilates class where we can help you experience this for yourself. If you want additional information, please contact me here. Please Like, +1, Pin, and Tweet it, by using the buttons below.