Yes, you read it right. It does say work your way to a better you through deep breathing exercises. In other words, it means become a better person by doing deep breathing exercises. Yes, deep breathing can improve your health and also relax your mind. In other cultures, breathing is thought to be the essence of being. Breathing is just one example of the constant polarity that exists in nature such as North and South, night and day, growth and decay and the ultimate, life and death. Breathing is known as the universal energy that can be used to find a balance the body and the mind and even between the conscious and the unconscious. This is the how yoga sees breath or prana. It is believed that the breath is the easiest means to communicate between our bodily systems and can then be therefore used to help bring about positive change.

Breathing is the only function that we can control and not control. Because of this, we can use breathing to influence the involuntary functions of the nervous system that regulates blood pressure, heart rate, circulation and digestion among others. There is a yoga practice called Pranayama and it literally means the control of life or energy. This uses breathing techniques to change the energies within the body towards well being. It is believed that through breathing, the functions of the body can be altered, especially the ones we do not have conscious control.

Did you know that breathing can be trained to have a positive effect or influence on the body and health? There are 2 ways to breathe: through the chest and through the abdomen. How do you know if you are a chest breather or an abdomen breather? Take this simple test. Place your right hand on your chest while you place your left hand on your abdomen. Breathe. Which hand rises more? Is it the one on the chest or on the abdomen? If it is the one on the chest, then you are a chest breather and if it is the one on the abdomen, you are an abdomen breather.

How does determining how you breathe can improve your health and well being? Much of the blood flow occurs in the lower lobes of the lungs. These areas have limited expansion if you are a chest breather. For a chest breather, much of the air exchange happens at the top of the lung tissue towards the head. And most chest breathers do more shallow breathing. This is because of chronic stress which led to the restriction of the connective and muscular tissue in the chest. When this happens, there is a decrease in the range of motion of the chest wall. The chest does not expand and cannot expand the way it is supposed to be.

Shallow breathing results to a poor delivery of nutrients to the body as less oxygen is transferred to the blood. But never fret. Deep breathing can be learned and with regular and constant practice, you will be breathing from the abdomen even when you are asleep.