9 Benefits of deep breathing
Let us look at the benefits of deep breathing and why you should make it part of your everyday living...
1. Breathing detoxifies and releases toxins
Your body is designed to release 70% of its toxins through breathing. If you are not breathing effectively, you are not properly ridding your body of its toxins i.e. other systems in your body must work overtime which could eventually lead to illness. When you exhale air from your body you release carbon dioxide that has been passed through from your bloodstream into your lungs. Carbon dioxide is a natural waste of your body’s metabolism.
2. Breathing releases tension
Think how your body feels when you are tense, angry, scared or stressed. It constricts. Your muscles get tight and your breathing becomes shallow. When your breathing is shallow you are not getting the amount of oxygen your body needs.
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3. Breathing relaxes the mind/body and brings clarity
Oxygenation of the brain reduces excessive anxiety levels. Pay attention to your breathing. Breathe slowly, deeply and purposefully into your body. Notice any places that are tight and breathe into them. As you relax your body, you may find the breathing brings clarity and insights to you as well.
4. Breathing strengthens the lungs
As you breathe deeply the lungs become healthy and powerful, a good insurance against respiratory problems.
5. Breathing massages your organs
The movements of the diaphragm during the deep breathing exercise massages the stomach, small intestine, liver and pancreas. The upper movement of the diaphragm also massages the heart. When you inhale air your diaphragm descends and your abdomen will expand. By this action you massage vital organs and improve circulation in them. Controlled breathing also strengthens and tones your abdominal muscles.
6. Breathing strengthens the immune system
Oxygen travels through your bloodstream by attaching to haemoglobin in your red blood cells. This in turn then enriches your body to metabolise nutrients and vitamins.
7. Breathing improves the quality of the blood
Deep breathing removes all the carbon dioxide and increases oxygen in the blood and thus increases blood quality.
8. Breathing increases digestion and assimilation of food
The digestive organs such as the stomach receive more oxygen, and hence operates more efficiently. The digestion is further enhanced by the fact that the food is oxygenated more.
9. Proper breathing assists in weight control.
If you are overweight, the extra oxygen burns up the excess fat more efficiently. If you are underweight, the extra oxygen feeds the starving tissue.
Shakeera Tayob, yoga instructor from Yogi Bee 083 566 9496.
