Breathing is so natural that we don’t even need to think about it but did you know you can breathe your way to a healthier you?
Are you mindful of how you breathe? Take a slow, deep breath through your nose. Let your chest expand, let the air fill your lungs, and slowly exhale through your mouth. It feels good, doesn’t it?
Not only does deep breathing feel good, it’s also extremely good for your body.
Here are 5 reasons why you should practice deep breathing:
1. Mental Clarity
Sometimes there is more mental clutter than we can deal with at the moment, causing us to be distracted and out of focus. Deep breathing helps us regain our center and brings us back to the present. Slow deep breaths stimulate the release of endorphins and produces a calming effect, clears our mental clouds, and improves focus.
2. Detoxification
Our lymphatic system flushes out toxins and waste from our body, and it relies on breathing and physical movement to keep the toxins flowing and carry out detoxifying your body from harmful components.
3. Weight Loss
Deep breathing brings more oxygen into your lungs, delivering more oxygen to the heart and ultimately to the rest of the body – giving you more energy, vigor, and mobility. A lot like exercise, deep breathing keeps our cells in an aerobic state that is conducive for burning fat rather than storing it as energy reserves.
4. Pain Relief
Our natural response to a jolt of pain is to hold our breath, but it is actually more beneficial to breathe through the pain. Deep breathing oxygenates the blood and triggers the brain to release endorphins. These endorphins reduce stress and pain levels.
5. Relaxation
Deep breathing stimulates our parasympathetic nervous system that is responsible for our fight and flight response, signaling your body to neutralize stress levels and induce a calmer feeling.
Don’t take your breathing for granted. Take slow, deep breaths several times during the day and see how it benefits you!
This list was adapted from this article by Mind Body Green.