Breathing is our most fundamental, basic activity that we practice on a day to day basis. Think about it, when we came into this world it was the first thing we did and the last thing we do when we leave. On average we take 25,000 breaths a day. Most people have very poor breathing habits and are only utilizing 50% of the efficiency of their lungs which causes physical and emotional challenges such as:
20 breaths per per minute=50% efficiency of our lungs
anxiety
inflammation
asthma
diabetes
I believe that there's a number of different reasons why most Americans have dysfunctional breathing patterns.
poor nutrition/diet
poor posture
stress
Stress creates a negative feedback loop when it comes to breathing. The breath is shallow and accesses the upper lungs only. This method of breathing creates a stress response in the body by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, which is that fight or flight response.
12 breaths per minute=70%-75% of the efficiency of the lungs
Decreases inflammation
decreases heart rate
Increases circulation
Improves homeostasis
3 Basic steps to improve your breathing
1.) Breathe in and out through your nose
2.) Slow your breath down.
3.) Take deeper fuller breaths
Which will improve the exchange of life giving oxygen and the removal of CO2, a waste product, from the body.
Remember you can break the shallow breathing habit by consciously focusing on your breath reminding yourself to slow it down, making it deep and full and inhaling/exhaling through you nose.