Introducing Diaphragmatic Breathing March 7th, 2008

Please don’t be put off by the large word! Diaphragmatic breathing is just the technical term for breathing deeply. When you breathe deeply, you are taking air into your lungs by expanding your diaphragm rather than rather than your rib cage. Of course, most people don’t make the conscious effort to breathe this way. But the health benefits are astounding! Who know such a SIMPLISTIC task could be so beneficial. And yet, you probably aren’t taking advantage, are you?

Before you continue with this article, close your eyes for thirty seconds. As you sit at your computer, lightly cross both of your hands on your stomach. Inhale through your nose, breathing deeply as your stomach expands. Focus on expanding your stomach rather than your chest. Then exhale slowly, pushing the air out of your body via your stomach. Now repeat. This is diaphragmatic breathing. Notice your heart rate slowing down? And the ability to think a bit more clearly? These are just two of the numerous benefits of breathing deeply.

The opposite of deep breathing is. . . shallow breathing! It’s how you are probably breathing right now. The short, choppy breaths that you take unconsciously is not the healthiest way to breath. Sure, you’re technically doing it right because you’re still alive, but you could be healthier. Shallow breathing not only does not allow you to take in enough oxygen, but you also don’t exhale enough carbon dioxide. Are you constantly tired or weak? Try breathing deeply and watch your energy levels soar!

As a new student of yoga, where it is diaphragmatic breathing is taught, it is starting to become an unconscious thing, and I can already see an increase in my energy. But on an emotional level, doctors are becoming more and more aware of the benefits of deep breathing. Marcelle Pick reports that, after analyzing several studies,

Richard Brown, MD and Patricia Gerbarg, MD reported that yogic deep-breathing techniques were extremely effective in handling depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. These techniques can serve as an excellent adjunct to conventional medical treatment — or in some cases as a suitable substitute — in treating myriad psychological disorders, as well as eating disorders and obesity.

Not only is deep breathing simple, but it’s FREE!

The biggest thing that deep breathing combats is stress.Stress happens to the best of us. Sometimes it feels like there’s never enough time in a day, or everyone’s against, or something! Unfortunately, stress can have a negative effect on not only our minds, but our bodies as well. Deep breathing, however, stimulates the vagus nerve, “bringing balance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system.” In other words, it illicits a response knon as the “relaxation response”. And it does exactly what its name sounds like ;o)

The world is a hectic place today. Everything is done at a fast pace, and it seems like as soon as you learn something new, it’s already obsolete. Stress is common place, and dealing with it is often expensive and doesn’t work. Just slow down. I was watching “Van Wilder” not too long ago, and Van Wilder said something that has stuck with me since the first time I saw it: