Criticizing the way people breathe seems a bit unfair. It comes naturally, right?
Well, sure. But changing the way we breathe brings added health benefits.
"Breathing is natural, but we rarely get it right," said Elizabeth Peyton-Jones, author of "Cook Yourself Young." She said breathing correctly contributes to a person's mental state, which is important to overall health. It helps calm the mind, which can rest the body.
"Breathing, which actually should be quite normal, in fact, is not really normal," Peyton-Jones said.
Whether sitting at a desk, waiting for a bus or relaxing at home, many people breathe incorrectly.
"People tend to breathe quite shallow," said Peyton-Jones. "Some people hardly breathe at all. You actually can't see their chest or their stomach moving, and you don't feel the breath coming out of their mouth. It's so shallow, it's hardly noticeable."
If you're not breathing deeply, you're not getting enough oxygen and "not pumping oxygen around the body like you should."
When breathing correctly, energy levels are high and neck and shoulders are relaxed, which can help with digestion, she said.
Picture inhaling and exhaling deeply, watching your belly push itself in and out. This helps you focus on the act of breathing.
