8 Benefits of Deep Breathing

Breathe in. Breathe out. This process continues during our life without a thought. At the same time, we spend our lives on autopilot, mostly tuned out of the present moment and disconnected from our breath. We ignore the power of breath that gives us life. Our modern life demands multitasking and multiple jobs. All this so that we can check things off the to-do list. Oh yes, I know you have that list in front of you right now? You know why? Because I carry my lists everywhere too. While a healthy dose of determination can be good, too much obsession isn’t good for our health in the long run.

The antidote to destressing and finding calm and focus isn’t hiking to the mountain top and meditating for hours. The antidote is our breath. Yes, precisely that thing you do on average 20,000 times a day. All you have to do is practice deep breathing.

Deep breathing is a simple exercise with numerous benefits. The extra oxygen that you inhale and slowing down the breathing rate does wonder for the body and mind. It purifies, opens, and calms our body and mind.

This is the second blog of our exploring the wonder of breath blog series. Want to learn the benefits of deep breathing? Then keep reading!

Reduced Anxiety & Depression- Deep breathing allows us to slow down the breathing rate, which doesn’t tax your respiratory system. Taking deep breaths slows the heart rate, increases oxygen intake, and signals the brain to relax.

Decreased Pain- Stress revs up the body’s pain response. Research shows that deep breathing releases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals, in our brain. Endorphins are natural pain killers.

Detoxification- We all know that breathing releases carbon monoxide, a toxin for our bodies. But what you might be surprised to find out is that breathing is in charge of eliminating 70% of body toxins. Shallow breathing results in our body working overtime to release these toxins, taxing our body.

Enhanced Immunity- Deep breathing promotes better oxygenation. Oxygenated blood carries vital nutrients more efficiently. Nutrient transport and absorption are necessary for building immunity.

Improved Energy Levels- The increased oxygen levels in the bloodstream help increase your energy. The more energy you have, the better your mood will be, and you will feel more alert. It also improves our stamina. That means you can embrace those endurance activities.

Faster Recovery- Deep breathing improves the way the body responds to intense exercise. It helps the body adapt to strenuous workouts, and it reduces your chances of injury.

Lowers Blood Pressure- Deep breathing helps your muscles relax. Relaxed muscles lead to dilated blood vessels, which improve circulation and lowers blood pressure. Plus, the lower heart rate from deep breathing helps lowers the blood pressure.

Better Posture- Deep breaths are always accompanied by long and tall spine. The more you practice deep breathing, the better your posture will become. Breathing deeply also strengthens the core muscles, which leads to better posture.

Are you telling me you don’t have time for breathing exercises? Try to incorporate them into your daily routine by using the habit stacking technique, like right when you wake up and go to sleep, driving home from work, or before you eat lunch. By stacking it with something you already do, you can sneak in a few deep breaths for sure. Before you know it, deep breathing will become a strong habit, and you will be enjoying all the benefits mentioned above.