Your body would not be able to move if oxygen were not flowing to your brain, your heart and your muscles. If you do not feel the ability to maintain your activity level, you can increase your stamina through breathing techniques designed to increase the flow of oxygen. Through proper breathing, your body will use less energy for breathing which reserves more energy for stamina and endurance. When you breathe properly, your body will move more oxygen with each breath, which may slow your breathing rate.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Step 1
Practice breathing from your diaphragm. Lie on your back. Bend your knees and place a pillow under your head. Rest one hand on your chest and one hand slightly below your rib cage.
Step 2
Breathe in through your nose. Inhale that breath until the hand on your stomach, or diaphragm, rises. Keep the hand on your chest from rising by not focusing on your lungs for the breath. Use the diaphragm to control the breathing.
Step 3
Exhale through your mouth. Contract your stomach muscles to force the air upward and lower your hand. Purse your lips and exhale. Keep the hand on your chest very still.
Step 4
Repeat the inhale and exhale for five to 10 minutes. You can repeat three or four times during the day to improve your deep-breathing technique.
Single-Nostril Breathing
Step 1
Sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair with your back straight and shoulders down.
Step 2
Fold down the middle three fingers on your right hand. Hold your hand in front of your face.
Step 3
Close your left nostril by pressing against it with your right pinkie. Inhale through your right nostril.
Step 4
Open the left nostril. Close the right nostril by pressing against it with your right thumb. Exhale through your left nostril.
Step 5
Continue to inhale through the right nostril and exhale through the left for one to three minutes.
