What if we said there is a way that you can relieve stress, get your oxygen and blood flow, and even feel and sleep better by just spending a handful of minutes each day doing exercises so simple that it doesn’t even require you to leave your chair?
Luckily, this process exists in the form of deep breathing exercises.
A National Institutes of Health study shows that these types of exercises are beneficial to seniors, and when done regularly, they can improve your lung strength and oxygen supply.
Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing wants to share three easy breathing exercises that you can start doing today.
- Complete Breathing
The key to this exercise is to take your breaths from deep within you. Sit up straight and put your hand on your stomach. Your belly should expand as you take a deep breath in through your nose. Hold your breath for a few beats, then exhale slowly out your mouth, with your stomach muscles contracting, until your lungs feel empty. Do this in a quiet environment and repeat the process for five minutes.
2. Diaphragm Breathing
This is similar to the complete breathing exercise, except that you are lying flat on your back. You’ll want to place one hand over your navel, and the other goes above it on your stomach. You should see your hand on your navel rise higher as you inhale. It’s also recommended that you do this exercise for five minutes.
3. Buteyko Breathing
This exercise is for people who have breathing issues like asthma. You can perform this exercise lying down or sitting — just find a comfortable, relaxing, and quiet space. Focus on taking slow, shallow breaths in through your nose. This method has been proven to reduce the occurrences of quick, gasping breaths that occur during an asthma attack.
To learn more about Wichita Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/wichita_center/.
