What and how we breath makes a difference

Everything we do requires Energy – Where do we get it from

Our bodies produce the needed energy by burning fuel from the foods we eat. The next step is -

What element is necessary to burn the fuel and get energy from it? Oxygen from the Air we breath into our lungs are made up of approximately 600 million sponge like air sacs call alveoli that do this  work of exchange.  Oxygen rich blood then is transported to the entire body, Carbon Dioxide is breathed into the air to be used by plants.  This exchange takes only a millisecond to complete, the circuit of your body takes only about 1 minute.   All the cells of our body are dependant on our breathing.

So Take an Oxygen break:  Take advantage of play time outdoors to throw up your arms & breath deep go to  a window, open it wide and breath deep expanding your chest.

Our Brain is the most sensitive part of our body to a lack of oxygen.             Lack of Oxygen can: 

1.Decrease our ability: to reason to exert our willpower use good judgment control our emotions

2.Cause: Confusion Clumsiness Irritability

Some things that you can do to make sure you get the oxygen you need.   Proper Posture is Important to Proper Breathing whether you are standing, sitting and walking.                                                           Learn Diaphragmatic Breathing: Breath in deeply so that your lungs expand & the diaphragm is pushed down.  When you breath out, the lungs will get smaller & the diaphragm will move up.  Respiration is carried out by this piston-like action of the diaphragm. This pumping action works best when the tone of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles are good. 

Any one of the following can affect your bodies use of oxygen: a high fat diet (clogging arteries), smoking (breaks those small alveoli), alcohol (constricts blood vessels), tight clothing (restricts the expansion of the lungs) & even dehydration (blood is thicker, so flow is less).

Now the exercise that will make the diaphragmatic breathing work best for you (look for as fresh a source of air as available – in a city your air conditioned room might be best because of air pollution):

1. While Standing stretch your arms high above your head
2. Breath in slowly, mouth closed. Normally the ribs will expand
3. Expand the chest as far as possible while breathing in. At the height of inspiration take in 1 more whiff of air
4. With mouth open, let all the air out while slowly bending over. Cough to get the last bit of air out
5. Repeat 5 to 10 times every morning

I will give 1 caution Start slow – remember your brain may not be use to so much oxygen & it might make you dizzy!!  A few minutes invested working on good posture & good breathing will be time well spent in improving your health. & making you feel better. For even better health click here.

 

 

Tags: air, breathing, Health, posture