3 Ways To Breathe For Longevity

Self Assessment

Ask yourself:

• Is my breath laboured?

• Do I forget to breathe and then suddenly gasp for air?

• Is breathing easy for me? Is my breath steady, and full of energy? 

Your breath is the most reliable thing  in your life. As long as you're alive, it will be there (or - as long as it is there, you will be alive!).

As your system and structure gets more efficient, the number of breaths you take each minute will come down. And other health indicators will follow, like heart rate and blood pressure.

The calmer your breath is naturally, the better your health will be and the more you will be able to live well. Here are three things to consider about your breath.

Here are three small adjustments to your breathing that can have a significant and positive impact on your longevity.

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1. Just Inhale And Let The Air Go Where It Wants To Go.

 More people are trying to talk (preach) different ways of breathing for whatever reason, like inhale then hold in the stomach, or inhale and only inhale through the belly/diaphragm, etc. All you need to do is inhale, and that's it.

Don't try to control where the breath goes and for how long. Just breath naturally, and the air will go wherever it needs to go. 

Some people will purposefully try to take longer breaths, or prolong exhaling according to a timer. Intentionally stretching your breath and forcefully breathing a certain way will eventually lead to you gasping for air.

By breathing slightly deeper than normal in coordination with movements (e.g. practices like yoga and qi gong), over time you will notice your breath requirement will go down.

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“The way you breathe will tell you just how efficient (and healthy) your system really is.”

2. Focus On Each Breath.

If you get into a situation where your body, mind, or emotions are getting a little too far away from you, by focussing on your breath, you will gradually bring your state back to equilibrium.

Think about anytime you needed tremendous concentration - if you felt a bit like you needed to reset, it's natural to take a step away and take a breath.

By focussing on your breath at any point throughout your day, you will automatically become conscious, "mindful", and probably more aware of your mortality, which is a great reminder for anyone.

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3. In Through The Nose, Out Through The Nose.

Whenever possible, try to both inhale and exhale through the nostrils. Balancing the breath through the nostrils will bring you a balanced system and psychological wellbeing. Only in times of utter exertion when the body is being pushed its physical limit (like a sprinter performing in the Olympics), should the exhale happen through the mouth.

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Conclusion

Once you can coordinate your breath with your intent and your movement, you have the recipe to generate and apply tremendous power and force.