Breathing…I know what you are thinking, “I breathe every single day without even acknowledging it. I am a professional breather!”  This is true, you do breathe every day, but have you ever really sat down and thought about are you breathing correctly?  That is the purpose of this post today, to get you thinking about how you breathe on a regular basis, what can you do to improve your breathing, and what techniques can you use to help lung function and even decrease the stress/anxiety you may be experiencing. In a world riddled by a pandemic which directly affects the lungs, proper breathing techniques and optimal lung function is a must for each and every living, breathing, person!

The first thing I would like to talk about is the true proper way to breathe. Perform this little exercise for me quick. Sit back, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in and slowly let it out. I know what you are thinking, I can already feel a slight decrease of the current anxiety I feel due to the current global Pandemic. But that is not what I want you to think about, I want you to be aware of how your body moved while breathing in and out. On inhalation did your chest puff up and shoulders slowly move up to your ears? If so, your breathing mechanics are off! Hurray! You have failed the breathing test…now let us teach you the correct way to breathe. Sit back, close your eyes, take a deep breath in but this time make sure your stomach pushes outward on inhalation and pulls back in on exhalation. This is called diaphragmatic breathing, and it is the evolutionary correct way to bring air into your lungs and properly expel that air.

The muscles of your upper back and neck are supposed to be used for accessory breathing for when you just out ran a lion on the plains of the Serengeti and you need that extra help to quickly bring air in and out of your lungs. For some reason though, people have become accustomed to breathing normally in this incorrect manner. The results of this is rib pain, tight upper trap and neck muscles, headaches, fatigue, difficulty breathing and a whole assortment of other conditions can pop up just because you are not breathing correctly. One theory why people do breathe like this is because everyone lives in this weight conscious society and are afraid to push out their tummy because they do not want to appear fat! So, because of this, instead of pushing out their stomach they puff up their chest and lift their shoulders to their ears. But now you know the correct way to breath. You are reading this blog, so you are ready to make the changes for a better more optimal life.

Proper Breathing is Important for Better Health

I could sit and type out a bunch of different breathing techniques and exercises for you to try and perform, but we decided an easier way to really demonstrate these exercises is to make a video. I mean come on, who doesn’t like watching YouTube videos? Head on over to our YouTube channel @inTune_Chiropractic or click on the following link: inTune Chiropractic Clinic - YouTube Channel

For more videos and content posted weekly check out our Facebook and Instagram accounts @inTune_Chiropractic or head over to our website at: inTune Chiropractic Clinic, Inc. to learn more about the clinic and what we can do to further benefit you! Request an appointment from the website or give us a call at 615.553.2268!

The Doctors of inTune Chiropractic Clinic, Inc.

            Just remember, the Doctors of inTune Chiropractic are always here for you and are ready to do whatever we can so you can function at your most optimal level. Go on, give these breathing exercises a shot, it may be what you need to finally rid yourself of that chronic pain you have been dealing with! We cannot wait to see you soon!