Certain breathing exercises can improve the quality of your breath and promote an increased lung capacity. Your lung capacity usually decreases during times of stress, when your breathing becomes shallow and rapid. Smoking and certain types of disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders also can cause impaired breathing. Consciously performing specific breathing exercises can help lung expansion and help you get the most out of every breath.
Misogi Breathing
The Misogi breathing technique comes from the Japanese martial art of aikido. According to John Litchen in his book "Aikido: Basic And Intermediate Studies," Misogi breathing can increase your lung capacity and helps expand your lungs and chest. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Rest your palms on your upper thighs. Open your arms out to your sides as you take a long, slow inhalation. Raise your arms over your head as you try to take as much air as possible into your lungs. Pause when your hands touch over your head, then slowly exhale, lowering your arms down the center of your body.
Conscious Breathing
Becoming conscious of your breath through mindfulness breath techniques can help expand your lungs and chest, increase your lung capacity and slow down your breath rate during times of stress or shortness of breath. Sit in a chair with your hands resting in your lap. Relax your shoulders and neck. Close your eyes and simply become aware of your breath. Notice whether your breath is shallow and rapid or deep and slow. Try to consciously slow down your breath rate, inhaling to a count of three, then exhaling to a count of three. After a few breaths like this, inhale to a count of four, then exhale to a count of four. Continue this pattern until your breathing is calm, slow and deep.
Diaphragmatic Breathing
Like conscious breathing, diaphragmatic breathing promotes a slower, calmer breath rate, expands your lungs and chest and also helps invoke feelings of relaxation. Sit in your chair with your hands resting on your abdomen. Close your eyes and mentally observe your breath. Notice where the breath starts, for example, in your chest or stomach. Take a deep breath expand your hands away from each other. Imagine that you are filling a balloon with air in your belly. Now allow your chest to expand, filling your chest and shoulders with air. Pause for a moment, then slowly exhale, releasing the air first from your chest area, then your abdomen. Continue to breathe like this for several minutes.
Humming Breath
The humming breath is a simple technique that can quiet your mind, expand your lungs and slow down your breath rate. Sit in a chair and take a long, slow inhalation through your nose. Pause, then exhale out of your nose, making a humming sound while keeping your mouth closed. Practice this exercise for a few minutes, until your breathing is calm, slow and deep.
