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Why Should You Do A Breathing Exercise?

If you thought that your breathing wasn’t important to your fitness goals you were so wrong! Surprisingly enough correctly performing a breathing exercise may be the most important aspect of meeting your fitness goals. Many people don’t breathe at all when a movement becomes difficult because they are focusing only on controlling the movement but you do more harm then you think. Some just don’t understand correct breathing and how it affects our bodies.

Even though most of us pay no attention to the breaths we take in and out breathing can be controlled consciously. As you breath in the oxygen is distributed throughout your body to where it’s needed. When you breathe correctly you take in enough oxygen to work the chest muscles and prevent shallow breathing which can cause stress and anxiety.

Why is it so important to take deep breaths as you exercise? Exercise increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood due to respiration if you aren’t breathing normally then your muscles are being starved of oxygen and your exercise is not as effective. There are ways to retrain and correctly educate yourself on how to do a breathing exercise.

Breathing Exercises in Fitness programs

Several physical fitness programs have a stron focus on teaching correct breathing exercises. Including Tai chi, Yoga and Pilates. In each of these programs it is the balance sought between the mental and physical elements of exercise that encourage correct breathing. In each of these programs a correct breathing exercise is taught by getting the person to focus on concentrating on their breathing by completing very precise movements.

If you are looking to learn a correct breathing exercise it is imperative that you consult with a fitness teacher. It is very easy to do a breathing exercise wrong. Having the support of a trained professional is a great way to ensure you learn the techniques correctly. If you can’t afford regular classes or just don’t want them consider seeing a teacher 2 or 3 times until you have learned a correct breathing exercise.

Even though learning a correct breathing exercise through a exercise program might be the fastest way to make sure you understand the techniques its not the only way. If you are looking to learn a correct breathing exercise on your own it is possible. Try these steps mentioned below to see if they help you to learn a correct breathing exercise.

The first step to correct breathing is learning to breathe slowly. Try closing your eyes and choosing to let go of all stress. Focus on nothing but your breathing, image your body being filled with air then slowly release it. Remember to breathe through your nose: When breathing correctly you should only be breathing through the nose. Try breathing in slowly counting to five then breath out counting to five as well.

Most of us only breath through the chest. The problem with that is we only take shallow breaths. To ensure our bodies get the oxygen it needs we should be breathing through the diaphram. If you are correctly breathing when taking breaths in and out you’re chest should stay still while your stomach rises and falls slightly with each complete breath To train your body to this focus on inflating your abdomen as you breath in and contracting your abdomen as you breath out.

Beyond the benefits it can have on physical fitness a breathing exercise is a step to prevent or reverse various health conditions, reduce the effects of COPD and even stimulate brain functions. Retrain your breathing and you notice increased energy and less stress.