Exercises That Expand Your Lung Capacity
When we think of working out, most of us are focused on either losing weight, building muscle, or sometimes both. We tend to think in terms of physical appearance. We think of how we look in that pair of jeans or getting into that dress we haven’t been able to button for years.
However, there is a lot more to working out than appearance. Another great reason to work out is to protect and expand the health of your lungs. Your lungs do the very important act of breathing. The easier breathing is and the more air you are able to take in, the better your health, and more importantly your quality of life. To improve your lung health, and therefore, your overall health, check out these lung expanding exercises.
Running
Running increases cardio; no doubt about it. The first time you run, you are likely to feel out of breath very quickly. You will literally be sucking for air, grasping for as much oxygen as you can get. With time, however, running expands the lung’s capacity, making getting air much easier. You’ll be able to take in more air, which means more oxygen circulating in the blood and better overall health. To get this habit started, don’t start out too fast. Start with walking, move on to a simple jog, and keep going until you can run comfortably for your goal time.
Swimming
When was the last time you went swimming? Were you a kid? Even with that, did you actually swim or just play in the water? Swimming is an exercise that really taxes breathing. It forces you to breathe in a rhythm. It demands that you take in air, but on a schedule that keeps your body moving forward. Swimming will likely work a lot like running. The first time, it will really hurt, but stick with it and you’ll find your lung capacity expanding with ease over time.
Yoga
Yoga is not specifically designed for endurance, but it does teach trained and specific breathing techniques. It teaches you how to breathe using the diaphragm, taking in the most air possible and getting your body the oxygen it needs. While you may not feel your lungs being taxed with each workout like you would with running, you will find your capacity growing over time. What once caused you to be out of breath may become easier for the lungs.
Gaining lung capacity may not seem like a big deal, but it really will improve your quality of life. When breathing is easier, activities and movement becomes easier as well. Staying active is a great way to stay productive and happy, so use these exercises to get and keep healthy lungs for good.
Image Credit:
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Hey Paul Studios