Breathing properly is one of the easiest ways to make your body work better. When you do not inhale deeply enough, your body does not get enough oxygen, causing stress, nervousness and poor organ function. Proper breathing, on the other hand, boosts your energy levels, improves circulation and helps your body recover more quickly from injury and stress. Mastering proper breathing is not difficult, but since most people are used to breathing less than optimally, it may take a little while to change your habits.
Step 1
Place one hand on your chest with your palm pressed flat against your chest.
Step 2
Put your other hand palm-down against your abdomen.
Step 3
Breathe in deeply through your nose, pushing your belly out so that your abdomen lifts against your hand. The hand on your chest should not move with your breathing; all movement should be in your abdomen.
Step 4
Exhale slowly through your mouth, feeling your abdomen relax back to its starting position. The hand on your chest should stay still as you breathe out through your abdomen.
Step 5
Repeat, using your hands to guide your breathing until you are comfortable enough with proper breathing not to need them to guide you.
Tips and Warnings
- Practicing yoga or meditation can help you become more comfortable with proper breathing habits. This kind of breathing, called pranayama breathing, requires mindful concentration that can improve your everyday breathing habits also. It may seem counterintuitive, but you get more oxygen from one deep breath than from several small, shallow breaths. The dizziness you feel from rapid, shallow breathing comes from too much oxygen, not from too little.
