Why You Should Pay Attention to Breathing
By Genevieve Cunningham
We all like to think that we’re doing everything we can to lead a healthy life. We read about the latest diets. We check out the latest exercise programs. We read all about superfoods and magic supplements. But most of us are skipping a very basic and beneficial step in staying healthy. Breathing. We do this involuntarily, that’s true, but paying attention to breathing and doing it with purpose can bring a lot of healthy benefits to your life. Check out these reasons why you should breathe deep every day.
It Calms Anxiety
Anxiety is a common problem for almost everyone of an adult age (and even some teens). While it’s normal to experience a little anxiety, it’s not OK to suffer with debilitating anxiety. Deep breathing actually calms the body and mind, which then leads to lower levels of anxiety. When you take in a deep breath, it’s a calming sensation in and of itself. It then tells your body to relax as well, and though anxiety may still be present, it won’t be at the heightened levels for as long.
It Reduces Stress
Similarly to the way that deep breathing can lower anxiety, it can also reduce stress levels. As you take a deep breath, the body relaxes, and tension is often released from the back and neck. As that physical tension is released, mental tension (also known as stress) is often reduced as well. Taking a few deep breaths at the beginning of the day, during high stress moments, and at the end of the day are all great ways to get rid of a little stress and calm your body and mind.
It Can Give You Energy
Your body needs oxygen in order to produce energy. When you’re low on oxygen, your body slows down and becomes sluggish. Taking a deep breath supplies your body with a big intake of oxygen. Doing this a few times in a row or multiple times a day can fill your brain and body with much needed oxygen, which your body can then use to give you an energy boost as well as mental clarity. At first, you may find yourself actually yawning, but don’t fret. Just keep at it and you may notice that energy creeping upward a little every day.
If you’re interested in doing some deep breathing, practice meditation or yoga. If neither of those is in your realm of interest, it’s OK to simply pick up the breathing aspects of these and use them at your leisure. Though it might take some time to notice the benefits, they’ll definitely be worth the time and patience. Start the practice today, and improve your health now as well as long into the future.