I live, therefore I breathe!
So what is the point of consciously doing breathing training?
Breathing is more than just taking a breath
Sometimes it is the simplest things that make the biggest difference. Things that are so self-evident that we often overlook them. Because it is the first thing we do when we come into this world and the last thing we do when we leave it.
We breathe.
As obvious as it seems, our breathing is actually capable of so much more. Because there is a difference between simply „just breathing“ and breathing properly.
The importance of breath in everyday life
Our breath is vital.
It provides our body with the oxygen it needs and helps us to eliminate toxins. It is always there and costs us nothing. And yet, even though we breathe an average of 20,000 times every day, most of us do not make full use of this powerful tool.
In the following, I would like to take a closer look at the power of conscious breath training – a power that can make a difference in everyday life as well as in exercise and sports.
It is no secret that a balanced diet, good sleep and regular physical training are essential for our health and performance. But there is another, often overlooked aspect that can play just as big a role: our breath.
Surely many of us have heard of breathing exercises in the context of yoga, meditation. Many of these practices use breathing to calm the mind and strengthen the connection between body and soul. Here, however, I would like to focus on everyday/functional breathing.
It is about improving the function of breathing. Because most of us have forgotten it in modern everyday life. With functional breathing training, we learn (again) to breathe more efficiently.
It makes us fitter, healthier, more resilient to stress or more efficient.
Benefits of conscious breathing and continous breathing training with a few exercises:
- Increase endurance: improves oxygen supply to muscles and strengthens breathing muscles, promotes endurance in sports and everyday life.
- Improving concentration: sharpens the mind and promotes focus on important tasks.
- Reduction of stress and anxiety: Calms the nervous system, helps to effectively reduce stress and anxiety.
- Decrease of high blood pressure: Relaxed breathing can regulate blood pressure and keep it healthy.
- Increasing lung capacity: Trains the lungs to take in more oxygen, strengthens respiratory function.
- Support for respiratory diseases: Relieves symptoms and discomfort of respiratory problems, supports therapy.
- Digestive support: Stimulates the internal organs, supports digestion and metabolic processes.
- Pain control: Provides techniques for improved pain management, especially for chronic pain.
- Improving sleep quality: Promotes deep, restful sleep through relaxation and proper breathing.
- Promoting body awareness: Strengthens awareness of one’s own body, improves body awareness.
- Optimizing posture: Supports an upright posture, promotes correct breathing.
- Increasing immune defense: Strengthens the immune system through improved oxygen supply to the body and.
- Improving heart function: Supports heart health through regulated breathing and stress reduction.
- Reduction of fatigue: Increases energy levels through improved oxygen uptake, combats fatigue.
- Pregnancy support: Helps reduce stress and promotes relaxation during pregnancy.
- Quality of life enhancement: Improves overall well-being, promotes a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Breathing, nutrition, sleep and exercise
It is important to emphasize that breathing training is not a substitute for a healthy diet, good sleep or regular physical exercise. Rather, it is a foundation or supplement on the path to a healthy and productive lifestyle.
Breathing is the oxygen that keeps the fire alive. Without oxygen, the fire would go out, just as our body needs the oxygen we take in through breathing.
The food we eat is the fuel that feeds the fire. Just as wood or coal feeds the fire, food gives us the energy we need to function. Our inner flame burns strong and healthy when we eat well.
Sleep corresponds to gently controlling the fire. It is the rest that is necessary so that the fire does not get out of control or go out. When we sleep well, our body recovers and the flame of health remains in balance.
Movement is to be compared with rearranging logs and arranging embers to keep the fire in the optimal shape. It helps to keep the fire burning evenly and prevents it from getting too hot or too cold in certain places. As with handling a fire, balance is important in movement so that the flame does not go out or burn too wildly.
Removing waste from the body can be likened to removing ash and unburnt residue from the fire. As the ash accumulates, the fire weakens and may even go out. Similarly, the human body needs to get rid of waste products through respiration, digestion and other processes in the cells and organs to remain healthy and functional.
By paying attention to our breathing, diet, sleep and exercise, we ensure that our „inner fire“ is burning at its optimum state. It’s a constant cycle where each component influences the other to keep us healthy and energised.
If one of these things is not working well, it can affect the others and we may not feel so good. For example, if we don’t eat enough healthy food, we may not have enough energy to move or breathe properly, or sleep fitfully.
For Everyone, Everywhere - Start Now - But Do It Right!
The great thing about breath training is that it’s for everyone. It costs nothing, doesn’t require expensive equipment and can be done anywhere, anytime and integrated into everyday life. But of course there is not THE one „magic exercise“ that applies to everyone and everything, but here too intervals, techniques … should be adapted to the person practicing.
Time and practice: the key to success
As with everything in training, it takes time and practice to reap the full benefits of breath training.
What’s more, while well-trained breathing and respiratory muscles are of course not as vivid and marvellous as well-toned big biceps or a defined six-pack, they certainly offer more profound benefits for body and mind.
The good news is that anyone, regardless of age or fitness level, can benefit. And the more you do the exercises that are right for you, the more you’ll find that these benefits extend far beyond your workouts and have a positive impact on all areas of your life.
So I think we can all agree on one thing: „We all breathe“. But with a little practice and awareness, we can learn to breathe better – and thus live better, healthier and more powerful lives.
So let’s see breathing for what it really is: a simple, free and incredibly powerful way to improve our health, wellbeing and performance.
Take a deep breath, exhale slowly and discover the hidden power that lies within you. It is more than just breathing. It is a path to a better and more conscious self.
For more and individual information or workshops just contact me.
Tom Holzer
staatl. gepr. Instruktor
Co-Founder Fitboxen & Neuroboxen®
Dipl. Atemtrainer
Advanced „Oxygen Advanced®“ Instructor
Functional Physiology Specialist (Physiology First University)
0699 11 05 20 30
info@neuro.fitness
Kaindorf b. Hartberg
Steiermark, Österreich