11 Fascinating Facts About Breathing
Throughout our yoga, meditation, and pranayama
practices, there is a huge emphasis on the breath. But not so often do
we focus on how we breathe day by day, moment to moment – and, in turn,
how this affects our lifestyle.
Recently I completed an incredible course titled “Applied Anatomy and Physiology” with the inspiring yogi and physiotherapist Simon Borg-Olivier, through Yoga Synergy.
Simon talked (and demonstrated) a lot about the breath, and invited
along “Respiratory Physiologist, Behavior Modification & Breathing
Therapist” Roger Price.
Between the two, I learned many amazing facts about the breath, and how
these facts can completely transform your life! Here are 11 of them:
1. Breathing has very little to do with oxygen. Air has 21% oxygen and the body only needs 5%. It’s all about Carbon Dioxide!
2.
Breathing through the mouth can, over time, create a shrinking of the
jaw – hence resulting in crooked teeth (or a relapse after having your
braces removed).
3. Breathing through the mouth is the biggest cause for children developing a lisp when they talk.
4.
Getting up during the night to urinate is most likely due to breathing
with the mouth open. Breathing through the mouth causes the bladder to
shrink, making one feel as though they need to head to the bathroom
pronto!
5. The more you breathe (hyperventilation) the hungrier you will be and the more acidic the body will become.
6. You should only ever exercise to the intensity that you can keep your mouth closed.
7.
We naturally change sides in our sleep approximately every 30 minutes,
and this is mostly due to the balancing of the breath through each of
the nostrils.
8. The nose has a 4 stage
filtration system. By breathing into the mouth you go straight to stage
4. This easily results in sore throats, tonsillitis, and even ear
infections.
9. Asthma is mostly misdiagnosed.
It is often hereditary, and if you’re born with it, you will have it for
life – however, through a breathing program and a change in external
factors you can potentially be inhaler and steroid free for the
remainder of your life!
10. Inhaling through
the nose, and exhaling through the mouth messes with the balance of CO2
in the body. This results in a loss of CO2. Holding the breath can
increase CO2, which will help to rebalance the PH level.
11. If the lungs were open flat they would cover the size of a tennis court!
How are you breathing now?
Published May 9, 2012 at 5:15 PMhttp://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4764/11-Fascinating-Facts-About-Breathing.html
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