1. Why is breathing so important?
To breathe is to bring oxygen into the body (as we inhale) and to eliminate carbon dioxide (waste/toxins) out of the body (as we exhale).
Every part of your body needs oxygen to survive.
If we don’t eliminate the carbon dioxide it leads to acidity which places major stress on the body.
Breathing is controlled by and affects the nervous system. Breathing in stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight) and breathing out stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest/digest/heal). We need these to be in balance for the body to function at its best.
2. How should we breathe?
Place your one hand on your belly button, and the other on your upper chest/shoulder/neck area.
Breathe in slowly for a count of 5 allowing your belly to expand into your hand that is on the belly button first, without tensing the neck and shoulders. Visualise the diaphragm (which sits under the lungs), moving downwards, drawing the air in.
Breathe out slowly for a count of 7 allowing your belly button to fall down and the diaphragm to move back up into the lungs, pushing all the air out of the lungs completely.
Be aware that the heart rate and breathing become synchronous. Feel the relaxation and the calmness and repeat for 12 deep breaths.
3. When should we do this breathing?
This focused abdominal breathing should be done every morning before you get up, and every evening before you go to sleep. It should also be done before every meal, as it helps the parasympathetic nervous system to kick in so that you can digest your food. You can also do it when you are in traffic, when you are sitting on the loo, when you are standing in a queue or waiting for a meeting.
And definitely do it before your adjustment while you are waiting as it helps to get your autonomic nervous system in a coherent state, which makes you more receptive to receiving the best adjustment you can get.
Click on this link to see a video of this
http://www.fourwayschiro.co.za/videos/breathing
