Breathing
Posted by drbrickey on August 14, 2007
Action to take
At least once a day, expel all the air from your lungs.
Why
Yoga instructors, singing coaches, athletic coaches, exercise gurus,
meditation gurus, and even Lamaze instructors all try to teach us
deep breathing. We know we should. But few of us actually do it.
I believe change can be easy if you engineer it well. Going from
multi-tasking to peaceful meditation is too big of a jump for most Americans.
We try it a few times and give up–or decide we “just don’t have the time.”
When it comes to deep breathing, we have it backwards.
Few people breathe as deeply and fully as possible
when they try to take a deep breath. If you expel all the air
from you lungs, however, you usually get most of the air out
and create a very strong vacuum. That vacuum sucks air back in
and prompts your body to breathe more deeply for several minutes.
You don’t have to have a yoga matt, incense, and classical music.
You can do it at a stop light, while waiting for a file to download,
or standing in line at the grocery store or post office. Using that five
seconds of downtime gives you five minutes of better breathing benefits.
The procedure is a snap. The other trick is remembering to do it.
Sometimes you might choose to expel all the air in your lungs include:
~after brushing your teeth (seeing it as part of daily hygiene)
~before eating (it may also result in less overeating)
~any time you are stopped at a red light (even if listening to a CD or the radio)
~waiting in a line (may relieve boredom and impatience as well)
~before watching TV (if you are watching to relax, relax more fully)
~when going to bed (can also help you get to sleep)
Which ones fit best with your lifestyle?
Quotes
When you breath, you inspire. When you do not breathe, you expire.
~(source unknown)
Humor
Lamaze: You get to go through 36 hours of contractions;
he gets to hold your hand and say, “Focus… breathe…push… Good Girl!”
Poor grammar in medical records: The baby was delivered,
the cord clamped and cut, and handed to the pediatrician,
who breathed and cried immediately.
Anti-Aging Psychologist Dr. Michael Brickey is keynote speaker and author of the Oprah-featured book, Defy Aging and 52 baby steps to Grow Young. The books and his Reverse Aging anti-aging hypnosis CDs comprise his anti-aging system.
