Breathing Easier
I want to introduce you to some breathing exercises, that will make breathing easier for you. The Breath of Life breathing exercises are suitable for all ages and stages ? and can improve circulation, lung capacity, oxygenation and may reduce attacks of asthma and bronchitis.
A lot of people have a very faulty breathing technique or such bad posture that it makes it difficult to breathe in as their lung area is crushed. You can self-assess your own breathing ability by taking a good look in the mirror with your clothes off. Does your rib area seem collapsed, are you round shouldered, very narrow through the rib cage, holding one shoulder higher than the other or one shoulder more forward than the other? Breathe in ? what happens? Do your ribs visibly inflate, or pretty much stay the same? Do your shoulders rise? Can you only take very short, sharp breaths.
So here is a great exercise for everyone. Lie on your back on a mat on the floor or stand up nice and straight. Place your leet hand on your diaphragm, which is the v area between your ribs at the bottom of your sternum and your right hand on the side of your lower rib cage. Now breathe in and inflate your lower rib cage ? it should move dramatically. Your lower ribs should swing up and out and push out your hand. Little or no movement means you are breathing into the upper part of your chest and not using the big bellows of your lower lung lobes. If you are having trouble inflating your lower lungs then we need to work on your intercostal muscles ? the muscles between your ribs to get them fit and healthy to help you breathe.
Remember you are working on muscles ? so don't over do this the first day otherwise you will get sore and discouraged. Place your left hand on your diaphragm, the right hand on your lower right hand rib cage. Slowly inflate your lungs to a count of 5 pushing the air down into the lower half of your lungs, and consciously swinging the ribs up and out. Your diaphragm should also have risen up and puffed up your hand at the front. Hold the breath for a count of 2. Then slowly deflate your diaphragm first, then let your ribs slowly come in again to the count of 5. Try this one exercise 5 times a day for a week. You should be feeling substantially more movement under your hands at the end of the week than when you began.
Week 2, inflate your lower rib cage to a count of 5, and then breathe in and out to the count of 5 using only your diaphragm. If you can do this well done. You are really starting to get capacity in your lungs, and tone in your diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Now you might want to launch a career as a singer or a great thespian as you have learned some key exercises performers. You can get really fancy and do the yogi thing and inflate one lung at a time!
Many blessings dear readers. I hope these exercises help you breathe easier. Rikki
My hero, Gardening Australia retired presenter Peter Cundall attributes his longevity and good health to eating a piece of Kale every single day from his garden.
Here is a yummy recipe.
Kale Pesto
Steam the kale leaves from a whole bunch of kale, with the stems removed.
Then put the steamed leaves, 5 shallots peeled, 4 cloves or garlic, and 2-4 tablespoons of olive oil or hemp oil along with the juice of one lemon and half a cup of grated parmesan through the blender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Will store well and freeze well too. Very yummy as a dip, or instead of butter on sandwiches.
About the author
Rikki McDonald Grinberg (B. Soc Sc, Psychology; Grad Dip Criminology) owns and runs the Laughing Buddha Health Retreat and Ballina Beach Village. She specialises in mind, body and spirit, and works with hundreds of women looking to improve their health and fitness.
