How to breathe
A very brief practical guide
Breathing properly is more important than people think.
A couple of years ago, I read the book "Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art" by James Nestor and it changed my perspective on breathing.
The core premise is that breathing through your nose is superior to breathing from your mouth.
Why breathe through the nose and not the mouth?
The nose filters, warms, and humidifies the air, making it more suitable for our lungs and allows for better oxygen absorption, contributing to overall health.
Mouth breathing can dry the mouth, reduce oxygen intake, and over time lead negative downstream effects.
Modern research is showing us that making even slight adjustments to the way we inhale and exhale can jump-start athletic performance; rejuvenate internal organs; halt snoring, asthma, and autoimmune disease; and even straighten scoliotic spines. None of this should be possible, and yet it is.
Drawing on thousands of years of medical texts and recent cutting-edge studies in pulmonology, psychology, biochemistry, and human physiology, Breath turns the conventional wisdom of what we thought we knew about our most basic biological function on its head.
How to breathe
Breathe deeply and slowly: Inhale through the nose, allowing the diaphragm to expand. Exhale slowly. This helps in calming the mind and improving oxygenation.
Keep the mouth closed: Focus on keeping the mouth closed to avoid mouth breathing, which can lead to dry mouth and less oxygen.
Feel the air being filtered: The nose acts as a natural filter, warming and cleaning the air. Embrace this process.
Mewing is a technique that supports nasal breathing by aligning the jaw and encouraging proper tongue posture.
Place the tongue properly: Press the entire tongue against the roof of the mouth.
Keep the mouth closed: Maintain a closed mouth position, encouraging nasal breathing.
Stay consistent: Mewing takes practice, so be patient and consistent. Over time, it can reshape the face, improving both appearance and function.
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