That should be the mantra for every individual living in these chaotic times. Every patient that I see here at IHC, my one request is that they dedicate at least 10 minutes a day to perform some diaphragmatic breathing. This request may seem unreasonable; as all of us are leading busy lives and are under enormous pressures. Furthermore, we spend the whole day breathing anyway, why do we need to dedicate 10 minutes of our day to something we have been doing our whole lives, seems we must have mastered it by now or we wouldn’t still be alive…
There are enormous benefits to slowing down the breathing rate, and a myriad of terrible consequences of not doing so. I would direct you to one of Dr. Majid Ali’s articles for a full explanation of the critical role that oxygen plays throughout all the systems in the body: http://www.majidali.com/seven.htm. There is no right or wrong way to perform these exercises as long as they accomplish the two essential goals of slowing down the breathing rate, and utilizing the diaphragm to expand the lungs to their full volume. These exercises require no special equipment or clothing, you don’t need to go to the gym, and you don’t need a partner or a teacher. All you need is a comfortable environment and a quiet disposition so that you can listen to the body.
This is my bi daily regiment before bed and after waking. Start by lying comfortably on your back in bed or on the floor. Place one hand over the other and gently rest the center of the palm of the lower hand just below the navel. Breathe in through the nose with the tongue lightly touching the upper palate behind the teeth. As you do so you should feel your hands comfortably rising along with the belly, don’t resist or impede the movement of the belly, just relax and enjoy. This is a soft massage for all of the organs in the chest, abdomen, and even the pelvic cavity with enough practice. Once the inhale is complete, hold the air within the diaphragm for a few moments, let the mouth open slightly as the tongue falls to rest naturally in the mouth and slowly let the breath out of the mouth and the nose. When the exhale is finished, pause for a few moments and repeat. The goal is to make the breathing: smooth, even, slow, and soundless. Start by counting your exhales. Aim for ten to begin with and slowly work your way up to 100.
Given the central role that oxygen plays within the body in my opinion this is the best exercise you could do to improve your health. Once you have mastered it try to coordinate your breathing with stretching or walking, and try to remain in the soft relaxed state that you reach through these exercises throughout your day. You will be surprised how rested you feel and how dealing with life’s daily stresses will not be so traumatic. Using this same breathing technique during your acupuncture treatment will facilitate the process and potentate the results you achieve in each treatment.
Remember, in the acupuncture process nothing is put into the body and nothing is taken out, it is just the facilitator in helping your body restore its health. YOU have to do the work by providing the proper nutrients through your diet, ample oxygen, and a relaxed environment so that the body can metabolize all of this properly. So remember: Fewer Breaths, Deeper Breaths, Better Health.
Brian Jackson L.Ac.
