Thursday, December 27, 2007

Information About Breathing

Good breathing is essential to relaxation, a fact that is becoming increasingly recognized in both the complementary and orthodox medical professions.

Breathing properly can ease tension and promote calmness, which has an extremely important effect on the way our bodies function. When we are stressed or anxious, we breathe more rapidly, using only the upper part of the chest. This offers the quickest boost of oxygen to the system, but in the long run is not effective. When we are tired or depressed, we breathe more deeply, exhaling heavily and sighing.Naturopaths believe breathing clean air is essential to health because clean air oxygenates the blood and makes the tissues function more efficiently.

Air is also believed to have antiseptic properties. But breathing clean air on its own is not enough: how you breathe is also considered vitally important.The correct way to breathe is using the diaphragm, a muscle separating the chest from the abdomen. Contractions and relaxations of the diaphragm force the flow of air in and out of the lungs. Diaphragmatic breathing is more relaxing and more efficient since the lungs are able to fill and empty completely. In turn, the body is able to work more effectively since it has a good quality supply of oxygen with which to do so. When we breathe from the chest, as we do in times of tension, fear, or anxiety, waste products build up in the lungs, leading to increasingly less efficient breathing and a feeling of tiredness and lethargy.

Most practitioners will offer advice on breathing efficiently, and many therapies are focused around it, including Relaxation, Alexander Technique, Yoga, and Meditation.Practitioners encourage long deep breaths that expand the rib cage, and also the use of air baths and ionizers to improve the quality of air for patients with respiratory conditions.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

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