The most natural thing to do and yet why do we struggle to Breathe? We hold our breath constantly unaware that we are actually not filling our lungs properly the way they need us too. We shallow breathe so that only an eighth of our lungs are used. Our lungs were made to be filled with good healthy air and yet we restrict ourselves access to this. Why? Is the air running out? I hope not and yet the way we breathe looks like we are incapable of truly filling every inch of our lungs.
Have you ever played the ‘Hold your breath game’ in the car? A bridge is coming up and the challenge is to see how long you can actually hold your breath, while the driver navigates their way over the bridge. A great way to entertain small people in the car and stop the inevitable ‘are we there yet’ question for just a few minutes. Relatively easy to do when you are under 10 years old, increasingly harder to do as you get older. Maybe because you are midway through a conversation, or literally because you are not able to get enough breath in to sustain you for the whole trip across the bridge.
Think about how you are breathing right now? Are you filling your lungs right down to that deep belly breath? Or are you yawning trying to catch a bit more air and feeling exhausted at the same time. Why does breathing matter you ask? Apart from the obvious answer of we need air to survive, a good breath actually energises us. It brings a calmness to our bodies and everything becomes easier.We feel so much better when the air we breathe reaches deep into our body. It feeds both body and soul and can energise us to carry on with our day. Holding and restricting your breath leaves you shattered, shoulders tend to rise and we hold tension through the core of our being. It makes it so much harder to push through the motions of our day. We often misinterpret this lack of breathing, for exhaustion and reach for another coffee or a sugary treat.
Be aware of your breath, it is your friend and is there for many a good reason. Focus on it and let it in. Notice how a deep breath in helps you feel and just as importantly, notice how a big exhale can be theraputic. As the old stale air is no longer needed, release the breath and let it go. In and out, it really is that simple. Try it………
Louise x