Breathe – Total Wellness Principle #2
Wellness TipsBREATHE.
Odds are, you spend very little time thinking about your breathing habits.
I mean, really… it’s not a difficult thing to do. You’re body’s natural need to live, makes sure that you’re acquiring enough oxygen to survive. But, we need to be doing more breathing than is necessary to simply survive.
Poor breathing habits can negatively affect both your mental and physical abilities. Conversely, proper breathing habits can attribute to lower stress levels, reduced tension, and even increase productivity in your fitness routine. If you suspect that you do have poor breathing habits (and most of us do!), the best thing about this is it is quite easily fixed!
A quick, simple breathing exercise is a totally easy way to start feeling a little more rejuvenated, RIGHT NOW! And, done regularly, it trains your body to breathe more deeply even when you’re not doing the exercise. This means more oxygen intake on a daily basis, increased mental and physical abilities, and a more relaxed feeling.
Here is my quick, 5-step breathing exercise:
- Sit in a comfortable position with your shoulders relaxed. (Close your eyes for better effect.)
- Using your abdominal muscles, inhale deeply through your nose for 5 seconds.
- Hold for 2 seconds.
- Exhale.
- Repeat 5 – 10 times.
You can do this anywhere! At home, at your desk work, or evens sitting at the coffee shop. (This also ties perfectly in to Total Wellness Principle #1.)
Try this breathing exercise for a minute or two, each day. You’ll be on your way to feeling more energized and more relaxed every day!
