Deep Breathing and its Health Benefits.

Read on Helium: Deep breathing and its health benefits

Sit up straight, take a deep breath and release.

[sigh]

That felt good right? So why do we do it? We sigh when we are stressed. We sigh when we are depressed. We sigh when there is a “close call” – whew. “Sighing” is a sign of fatigue, stress, frustration and it’s a way our body takes a moment to get that depleted oxygen back into it for a needed recharge.

Take a deep breath and let it out; a cleansing breath. Fill those lungs, breath in the most important commodity your body needs to survive, then let it all out. Get that rush of oxygen to your brain and fill your body with what you need to: think straight, perform every day tasks better, and relieve some stress.

My personal trainer gave me a tip as I labored on my run up a steep incline. She called back to me, “Take a deep breath on every 5th breath. It will help you recharge your body.” So I took this deep, focused, breath and soon realized it was one of the best tips I’ve ever received as a runner/triathlete.

As a triathlete, especially for many beginner triathletes, the stress of the swim can make or break your race. The swim is crowded, it is a mass start; a mob of people hitting, kicking and fighting for position in the open water. You can’t see anything and if you panic, you’re done. It is a high stress and tense situation and you are in water where, God forbid, you can drown. Some swimmers pull up, gather their senses, and try desperately to relax and clear their heads before either continuing or quitting.

After I learned about recharging my body with a deep breath, I was able to maintain that sense of calm and continue my swim despite the stress, panic, and fear in the water. I’ll take that deep cleansing breath as I swim, I’ll slow down my arms and legs to relieve the added stress and to slow down my heart rate, then I recharge myself with the much needed oxygen found in a deep cleansing breath.

We sigh, or take those deep breaths during those stressful times during the day, so sighing or taking purposeful deep breaths during a race like a triathlon swim can relieve yourself of tension and regroup your mental toughness.

Breathing properly while swimming, riding your bike, and/or running is so important for your performance. So why should that be any different for your daily activities? Breathing deeply and breathing properly, in everything you do, can improve your overall health and wellbeing.

In order to attain the full benefits of a deep breath, you must breath from your abdomen. Check your posture. “Get centered”, as they say, and that’s exactly where your abdomen is – in the center – then relax and take a deep cleansing breath to recharge your body.

Work on your posture, your relaxation, and breath deeply every single day. You don’t have to do it all day long, but you need to work on it every single day.

Create a habit – a healthy one. “Research has proven that it takes 21 days to form a habit.” If you work on your deep breathing for 21 straight days, you’ll be well on your way to a healthy lifestyle habit that puts your body in a healthier state.

Take those deep breaths! Cleanse your body and recharge yourself!

“I’ve got to keep breathing. It’ll be my worst business mistake if I don’t.” Steve Martin

That being said – Keep Breathing! [sigh]

Read on Helium: Deep breathing and its health benefits

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