By health I mean the power to live a full, adult, living, breathing life in close contact with…the earth and the wonders thereof—the sea—the sun.

                                                                                                     -Katherine Mansfield

Breathe Like a Baby

It’s something we do every single minute of every day of our lives. From our first moments of this life until our last, nothing plays a more intimate role in our physical, mental, and emotional health and well being.

Most of us, me included, take our breathing for granted. We pay little conscious attention to this vital action, never considering its direct impact on our health. But just because breathing occurs automatically and we don’t have to think about it doesn’t mean we should ignore it.

Ever see how a baby breathes? That’s right – always in their bellies, not in their chest and shoulders. Why is that? Because that’s the way we are designed to breathe. As we age, and with ongoing stress, illness, and weight gain, our breathing becomes more shallow and higher up into our chest and shoulders.

Shallow, chest breathing makes our muscles tight, cuts off circulation to the heart, and makes our nervous system jumpy. Further, tight muscles, bad posture, and a pot belly make our breathing choppy and short, causing the problem to perpetuate itself over and over.

Some interesting points to note about breathing:

*          Breathing supplies oxygen to all our organs, tissues, and cells.

*          We can go weeks without food, days without water, and only 4-6 minutes without oxygen.

*          Breathing rids poisonous toxins from our body.

*          We breathe not only to take in oxygen but to release carbon dioxide, a waste product of our cells.

*          Breathing through the nose helps filter the air before it enters the lungs, reducing the chance of infection in the body.

*          Proper breathing can lower blood pressure and improve circulation to the heart and brain

Try this simple exercise to learn how you can breathe like a baby again. Find a place to sit comfortably and quietly without slouching. Soften your gaze toward the tip of your nose and quiet your mind. Next place one hand over your navel and begin to breathe into your belly, so that your hand draws forward and back with each breath. Do this for about a minute and repeat several times a day, or as needed for stress.

This is a wonderful technique I am delighted to share with you. Stick with it until you get it.  

Healthiest regards,

Dr. Carlos