Did you know that your breath affects your digestion? And your immune system?
Because it does. And you have total control over your breath. In fact, you can start changing your breath RIGHT NOW! As you’re reading this! Oh, yeah. Now we’re talking! I mean, breathing.
Think about how you focus on your breath while getting through a tough WOD or holding a pose in mobility. Would holding your breath be useful during these times? Not so much, and only in certain circumstances (such as decidely holding your breath at the top of each breath and incorporating it into the rhythm of deep breathing).
So, if we’re working out 3-4 times per week, maybe walking the dog, biking or other movements a few other times per week… what’s going on with our breath the rest of the time? That’s a lotta 24/7 where the breath isn’t even considered.
Think back to how you were breathing when you started reading this. Did you catch the article as you were scrolling through your newsfeed on your lunch break? Did you spot it while on facebook between work tasks? Instead of work tasks? Are you reading it really quickly to get the gist before needing to get back to what you had scheduled to be doing in this moment? That’s all good and fine, but since I have you here… how have you been breathing today up until this moment? Here are some options:
- deep belly breaths
- shallow breaths that don’t expand the abdomen or chest
- frontal breathing, without any anterior movement
- lungs only
- holding your breath for periods of time
- “catchy” breath, without full exhales or inhales
- shallow breathes punctuating with large sighs or occasional deep inhales
Which options do you tend to default to day to day? I encourage you to begin to play around with changing up your breath patterns. Start to notice what happens throughout the day–whats your lunchtime breath like on a Tuesday at the office versus a Saturday? When you’re sitting on the couch watching TV? When you’re talking on the phone with a friend (or texting back and forth?)
The more we can engage deep, calm breathing, the more we begin to stimulate our Vagus nerve, which is largely in control of our relaxation response, helping to flip us over to that good old parasympathetic state of being able to relax and not be on high alert. So try checking yourself this week and report back–how does changing up your breathing affect your whole body?