We don’t think about it, but we all do it daily and many times every single day. Our breathing is fully automatic and on average we breathe 23,000 a day and process approximately 10,000 litres of oxygen. But what is breathing exactly and can you do more with it? In this blog we discuss some surprising facts about breathing.

What is breathing?

When you breathe, you transport oxygen to the cells of the body to make them work, while also cleaning the system from the carbon dioxide that this work generates. How can we perform this crucial and complex task without even thinking about it? This TedX video by Emma Bryce shows how our lungs keep us alive:

Breathing and stress

There is a strong connection between breathing and stress. When we are relaxed, we breathe in the most natural way towards the abdomen. With abdominal breathing, the body is able to function optimally. As soon as stress comes into play, this has an immediate effect: we become short of breath. The breathing is high at the chest. The longer a chest breath lasts and the more it occurs the harder it is for the body to function optimally. Not breathing well for a longer period increases the risk of depression and anxiety. The World Health Organization indicates that by 2020, depression and anxiety will be the number one disease worldwide. Max Strom, breath coach, explains how good breathing can contribute positively to physical and mental health. View his TedX talk here:

Good posture

A correct sitting posture is not only important to be able to do your work well, but also to be able to breathe properly. Do you spend a lot of time at your desk? Then you can feel it in your neck, shoulders and (lower) back. Give yourself a short healthy break with these exercises that you can do behind the desk:

Online Yoga Class

Practising yoga ensures that you are more aware of your breathing and can use it optimally. That’s why I’d like to invite you to try out an online yoga class. Want to know more about yoga and the various options we offer? Take a look at my website https://www.100procent-yoga.com/ and experience what yoga can do for you and your breathing!