Did you know that there is a right way and a wrong way of breathing?  You can greatly increase the quality of your life just by changing the way you breath.  Symptoms of breathing the wrong way include fatigue, anxiety, being emotional or irritable, muscle tension, headaches, and difficulty concentrating.  Sound familiar?

Here's the good news:   Breathing the right way doesn't require drugs, it doesn't cost money, and training your body is quick and very simple.  In very little time, you can feel calmer, happier, and have more energy.  In addition, you will be able to react to stressful situations with more control and a clearer head.  

It's a simple concept:

 You are either breathing from your chest or your belly.

"Belly breathing" is the way nature intended...calm and controlled. 

"Chest breathing" is what is more common, simulating the "fight or flight" response.  It's rapid breathing your body is only supposed to use when it senses danger and needs to be ready to fight or run for it's life. 

This type of breathing can be exhausting if it becomes routine.

A quick way to test your breathing:

Lay on a flat surface (bed or floor) and place one hand on your chest. 

Place the other hand over your belly, just above your navel. 

Take several deep breaths and watch to see which hand is moving up and down. 

If the hand on your chest is moving, your body is wasting prescious energy.

The ideal is for the hand on your chest to remain still and the hand on your belly to be moving.

The Excercise:

Use the same position used to test your breathing.  Take a deep breath, in through your nose, raising your belly, and hold for for a count of five.

Exhale through your mouth, lowering your belly, for a count of five. 

Repeat nine more times.

If you are a lifelong chest breather, this will feel very awkward and uncomfortable.  It will get easier with practice.

Do this excercise at least once a day, in a private and quiet location for a couple of weeks. 

Once it becomes natural, you will find you can do it sitting or standing, as needed, to reduce anxiety and tension. 

Taking a five or ten minute breathing break each day will do wonders for your attitude and stamina and add quality years to your life.