27/02/2026
Breath is life… breath is medicine… breath is a movement of prana.
How we breathe affects mood, sleep quality and energy levels.
Think about it… we can theoretically go weeks without food, days without fluids, but only minutes without breath. Conscious breathing should be our first priority when considering a healthy lifestyle.
Breathing tips to improve your life:
1. Awareness – how are you breathing… deep, shallow, erratic, calm, smooth, focused? Try to become aware of your breathing habits.
2. Breathe through the nose – your nose and nasal cavity is the organ evolved for ideal breathing. It warms and humidifies the air while trapping airborne particles and pathogens. George Catlin wrote a book in 1865 entitled ”Shut Your Mouth and Save Your Life” (it’s well worth a read).
3. Breathe with a focus on your diaphragm (the diaphragm is the primary muscle of respiration located at the bottom edge of your ribcage). Allow your belly to expand on inhales and relax on exhales.
4. Breathe slowly – the therapeutic zone for breathing is four to eight breaths per minute. The ideal is 5.5 breaths/min. These rates allow for optimal gas exchange.
5. Breathe quietly – focus on more relaxed mindful breathing – loud breathing is associated with over-breathing and mouth-breathing.
6. Extend the exhale – tips 5 and 6 bring about parasympathetic nervous system dominance and develop CO2 tolerance, which improves tissue oxygenation.
Breathing is one of only a few bodily functions that we can consciously control, and as such, conscious breathing is a game changer.
Try it and see for yourself. The best part is that it’s free!
Hari Aum Tat Sat. Ken
Send a message to learn more
