WHY FOCUS ON BREATHING?
Of, course we’re all breathing, right? Unfortunately, volumes of medical research documents that 90% of all Americans are not breathing correctly and therefore putting their health at great risk. Studies on shallow breathing have documented that it is the first place, not the last, that one should look at when fatigue, disease, stress or other evidence of disordered energy, or trauma, presents itself.
HOW OXYGEN REACHES THE BLOODSTREAM
Breath comes from the same section of the Brain as our Emotions (The Limbric)
The function of Breath is to bring air in and out of our bodies.
When we breathe with the mouth closed, the NASAL passages filter air as it passes the throat (the Pharynx). Air is bought into the nostrils and expelled through the nostrils.
Air passes the Larynx (the upper end of the windpipe) and passes the TRACHEA (windpipe). is the main airway to the lungs Air passes down the trachea and fills the lungs and is forced out through the trachea.
The Trachea divides into the BRONCHI, which stems into each lung. There is a right and left lung.
As air is inhaled - drawn into the LUNGS, air sacs called ALVEOLI transfers OXYGEN into the bloodstream converting it into energy. As we exhale we remove CARBON DIOXIDE (gas not needed).
The Alveoli air sacs are encased in tiny blood vessels. With each breath, oxygen is absorbed into the BLOOD, enabling the production of energy that is the vital fuel of every body function. Carbon dioxide, the waste product, is picked up by the blood, and carried back to the lungs where it is expelled during exhalation.
The DIAGPHRAGM is the Muscle attached to the ceiling of the BELLY and to the floor of the lungs. It is used for Belly Breathing (called Abdominal, Belly or Diaphragm Breathing)
When we push the Belly out on the inhale, we expand the Diaphragm downward, expanding the lungs. When we exhale, the Diaphragm relaxes and moves up, forcing the lungs to expel the waste (TOXINS).
On a regular basis, this simple change - of breathing deep within the body, from the Diaphragm instead of shallow from the Chest - optimizes each breath that we take. According to the authoritative book, “The Science of Breath”, we breathe an average, 20,000 times a day. This means we have 20,000 times a day to increase our life, through our breath, thereby creating more energy to optimize every function about life.
We can live without food for 45 days or more. We can live without water for 21 days or more. But without oxygen, within 4- 6 minutes, we are going home to our Maker.
THUS, OUR BREATH IS THE EASIEST THING WE CAN CHANGE FOR THE GREATEST IMPACT ON SPIRIT, MIND & BODY There is Power & POSITIVENERGY™ in Our Breath .
(See “The Power of the Breath” Book)
WHAT IS STRESS AND ITS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH BREATHING?
Stress is a reaction or a response. Stress is both mental (emotional) and physical (symptoms of muscular tension, release of hormones, etc).
Stress always prompts a response, called “fight, flight or freeze”. These reactions are demonstrated in the way that we breathe, either holding the breath or fast rapid breathing. We have all heard that when we are afraid, we hold our breath or at the point of some trauma, many will say, “Take a deep breath. ”
Constantly breathing from the chest, or breathing shallow from the middle or upper portion of the lungs, creates a vicious cycle of stress that prompts even more shallow breathing, which in turn, creates more stress.
Shallow breathing also creates strained lungs, tight muscles, nervous tension, cloudy thoughts, anxiety, increased blood pressure, lowered stamina, depleted immune and cell regeneration, a racing heart, over-taxes the kidneys, and creates many other physical challenges that stress all of the systems, over time, to deterioration.
There are 60 or more stress related disorders affected by Deep (Belly) Breathing
DEEP BREATHING from the Belly Benefits
● Spiritual Awareness
● Joy
● Stress
● Energy
● Clarity
● Weight Loss
● Depression
● Slows Aging
● Grief
● Anxiety
● Anger
● HBP
● Asthma
● Insomnia
● Cancer
● Heart
● Pain
● Detoxification
● Aids Digestion
● Migraines
● PMS
● Hiv/Aids
● Addiction / Recovery
● Smoking Withdrawal
● Conflict Resolution
● Racial Healing
● All ages
● MORE!
There is good and bad stress. We all experience stress, even if we don’t realize it.
There are lots of breath techniques and some require you to breathe from the chest. However, daily, Deep Breathing, second by second, minute by minute, gives us a simple tool to use to help us relax, releasing the tension, and builds up the oxygen reserve in the body, creating a buffer for stress known as “the silent killer.” This is why, we must “relearn how-to breathe for better life and health”.
10 POINTS TO AVOID STRESS:
DEEP BREATHE
STAY SPIRITUAL AND POSITIVE
EAT BALANCED
DRINK WATER
BE STILL
SIMPLIFY
BALANCE WORK
LIMIT TECHNOLOGY
LIMIT SUGAR
AVOID SUBSTANCES
DEEP BREATHING TO REDUCE STRESS FOR INCREASED WORKPLACE PRODUCTIVITY
Statistics from “Attitudes in the American Workplace Gallup Poll” state that:
• An estimated 1 million workers are absent every day due to stress, which cost organizations over $150 billion due to lost wages and low performance
• 80% of workers feel stress on the job; nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress.
DEEP BREATHING BENEFITS TO REDUCE STRESS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR
The Washington Post in May, 2005 cited several recent studies that indicate that stress from discrimination and racism has a direct relationship in the health disparities experienced by Black and Brown people who suffer more illnesses and die sooner than Whites. With 60 or more stress related health disorders like cancer, heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity; emotional challenges like depression, anxiety and addictions -- “relearning how to breathe” could be the easiest technique that communities of color could learn to bring about the greatest impact in Spirit, Mind and Body.
DEEP BREATHING FOR OVER-ALL SELF-HELP
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention ranked deep-breathing in 4th place among the 10 most widely used forms of alternative, complimentary, self-care remedies used by a growing 1/5 of Americans
Contact us today to schedule an experience with the BREATH from the PositivEnergy Breath Coach, Ayo Handy-Kendi, CTBF , CSM, CEO, PositivEnergyWorks™
WHAT EXPERTS SAY ABOUT DEEP BREATHING:
“The simplest and most powerful technique for protecting your health is breathing”
Andrew Weil, Dir, Integrative Medicine; Clinical Prof, Internal Medicine, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson; Author – Health Expert
A Center for Disease Control and Prevention study of 31,000 U.S. adults nationwide surveyed that 12% of Americans use “conscious or deep breathing” for medical reasons!
Washington Post, May, 2005
“The correlation between stress and the bodies’ breakdown to illness and aging has a serious, yet simple solution -Deep breathing”. AARP Bulletin ‘04
The FDA now approves breath-training as a recognized treatment for hypertension and over 1,000 additional studies show its effectiveness in relieving anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue & more.
Contact us today to schedule an experience with the BREATH from the PositivEnergy Breath Coach, Ayo Handy-Kendi, CTBF , CSM, CEO, PositivEnergyWorks™ |
