Breathing P.I
Breathe as if your wellbeing depends on it
Have you ever been curious about your breathing? Why it changes rhythms? How does it affect your health and moods? The most basic question, are you breathing correctly?
Now don’t assume that because you breathe regularly you are good to go. You are probably breathing all wrong.
Do you snore? Do you experience irritability or dry mouth in the morning? Have bad breath or jaw issues? Those are classic symptoms of mouth breathers, and just because you can breathe through the mouth DOES NOT mean it's the right way to do it.
Let’s understand how breathing should work and explore options to help you make breathing a tool that supports your well-being.
The nose is there for a reason - USE IT!
Your nose is not just two orifices in the middle of the face. It is made up of cartilages, turbinates, and nerve/receptors to filter the air you breathe. They work together to optimize the temperature, quality, and amount of oxygen so it’s better suited for your lungs. Think of it as a quality control inspection area that allows you to fulfill your unique oxygen needs.
If that is not enough of a reason let’s share some other benefits of using your nose to breathe.
Health benefits of breathing through the nose:
You get 20% more oxygen than breathing through your mouth.
You can breathe deeper and expand your diaphragm to activate your Vagus nerve. This nerve affects the regulation of various physiological aspects including heart rate and blood pressure.
It supports the lung's ability to expand - which is helpful to fight premature aging.
Nose breathing works wonders for your emotional & mental health.
I'll dive deeper into this particular benefit in an upcoming blog posts. Stay tuned!
You can say nose breathing is like a pulling lever to activate a
whole-body stability regulation protocol. If you are feeling less than ideal on the regular…
don’t you think it's time to use that lever?
Fun Fact: You take around 25,000 breaths a day which means you have plenty of opportunities to pull the lever at no extra effort.
I’m a mouth breather… SO WHAT?
Let’s get real here. At times situations force you to mouth breathe – allergies, congestions, or any form of nose blockage. But you should always aim to heal the problem correctly and go back to breathing through your nose. Don’t just settle for mouth breathing.
When you mouth-breathe you relinquish that privilege of oxygen quality inspection. As consequence, if you breathe through your mouth regularly, you are more susceptible to respiratory ailments, sleep disorders, dental complications, among others. If you want to read more on this topic Click Here.
To recap, not because you can, you should. If you are a mouth breather and are experiencing the symptoms already don’t despair. There are ways to correct your breathing technique.
Quick Survey:
Shifts to Improve your Breathing
If you wish to use breathing as a tool that supports your well-being or health goals, try these simple shifts until you reach your ideal breathing rhythm.
If these shifts are not a fit for you it is perfectly fine. Your unique circumstances and preferences are key intro creating successful shifts in your lifestyle. Feel free to reach out for a breakthrough session here. As an ex-mouth-breather, I’m aware of the hardships that can surface when changing your breathing technique. I’ll be more than willing to help you find the breathing rhythm that best works for you.
From my journey to yours
Don’t take it for granted!
One of the worst things I did to sabotage my well-being was to undermine my ability to breathe correctly. I never gave much thought to it and I forfeited all its benefits to shallow and fast mouth breathing habits.
My body gave me signs and cues to fix my breathing. Constant fatigue, recurring sinus issues, hoarse voice, anxieties ... all were there – clear as daylight. I was just not paying attention. Luckily, my holistic training helped me figure out how to fix my missteps and make breathing an accessible tool to support my health.
It took me a while to repair the damage and improve my breathing technique. I experimented with many tools like mouth tape, yoga classes, many research articles, different breathing apps, and one great book (Breath by James Nestor). But the key factor in my transformation was to give breathing the importance it deserves and make each breath a mindful experience.
Until Next One!
Stay happy, stay healthy, Stay BALANCED,
