Should the Cabin Pressure Change...

Do you know how to breathe?

I am sure you are asking yourself where this whole line of questioning is going. I mean, come on. Of course, I know how to breathe. I've been doing it since the doctor whacked my back side, oh, so many years ago.

I travel quite often and am reminded of breathing each time the flight attendant goes through his/her routine. He/she will say, "If the cabin pressure should change the oxygen mask will drop. Put it over your nose and mouth, pull the elastic tabs to tighten and breathe normally." Should the cabin lose pressure, breathing normally may not be as easy as the cheery Southwest flight attendant makes it sound.

In general, breathing is not something we think about. Or maybe we don’t think about breathing “normally” or breathing “correctly”, anyway. I know I didn’t until about 10 years ago. Prior to that I took breathing for granted. After I read an article in Men's Health magazine, breathing, which was an always an involuntary action became something that I thought about at least 3 times a day. I began to focus on my breathing while I was exercising, while I was meditating and while I was in the shower.

The Men's Health article said how important proper breathing was to maximize a workout. As I got down on the floor to do some push ups the next morning, I realized that I tended to hold my breath when I exerted myself. In the article, it said this was the exact wrong thing to do. It went on to say that if I wanted to get oxygen to my muscles for maximum results, not only did I need to breathe in exertion, but I needed to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. It felt a little odd but I guess everything new feels weird at first, even if it is the correct way to do it.

Once I began focusing on my breathing, I felt stronger and more energized in my workouts. The key is to breathe in fully through your nose and exhale fully through your mouth. This way you will intake the maximum oxygen as you inhale and clear the maximum carbon dioxide as you exhale. When I run I work to maintain a 3:2 ratio of inhaling to exhaling. I had to jog slowly to get the feel of breathing properly, but once I got the rhythm I was able to kiss cramps goodbye. When I do push ups, pull ups and sit ups, I focus to always exhale during exertion. So I exhale as I pull up then inhale on the way down. I exhale as I sit up and inhale as I lie back down. It not only feels better, but it burns more fat, decreases the heart rate and lowers the production of lactic acid in the body according to fitness experts.

A few years after my exercise routine kicked into high gear, I took up the practice of meditation. After seeing a presentation by Wayne Dyer where he discussed the benefits of meditation, I decided that I needed some peace and calm in my life. I made the commitment to start my day with quiet time in meditation and prayer.

I start by sitting in comfortable chair that allows me to sit up straight. I find a relaxed position that enables me to sit with good posture, close my eyes and focus on taking good cleansing breaths. Again, to get the most out of this meditative time, I breathe in fully through my nose and exhale fully through my mouth. I try to think of nothing but the pace and depth of my breathing. I want to clear my mind of all thought and oxygenate my body in preparation for some good focused time with God.

The first time I tried to meditate, I checked the clock and went through the breathing process. After what seemed like an hour I opened my eyes and the clock had moved about 45 seconds. My short attention span did not make me a natural for the practice of meditation by any stretch. It takes practice, patience and persistence to get to a point where you can sit thoughtlessly for 3 to 5 minutes. The amazing thing about these few minutes, however, is that they refresh like a two hour nap.

There are many good guides to meditation on video, audio or books to help you find your way whether by Gaiam or others at Amazon.com. Whether relaxing with music or silence, the practice of proper breathing through the process of meditation will bring unbelievable health benefits.

The third time each day that I focus on my breathing is in the shower. Once completely clean, I will close my eyes and let the hot water message my neck and shoulders. Once relaxed, I raise both arms over my head and breathe in fully, as I lower my arms, I breathe out fully. Often I will take this time to silently go through some positive affirmations for the day. I will raise my arms and thank God for filling me with His Spirit and all the positive, healing energy that is Him. As I lower my arms, I will thank God for allowing the water to wash away any excess energy, anxiety, fear, pain or disease that may be weighing on my body. By taking the cleansing breaths with the steam from the hot shower, I find that my breathing passage clears completely. Now, as I exit the shower, I feel energized and ready to take on the tasks of the day.

The reason that I choose to focus on my breathing during these three activities is that I can remember three things. Anytime I need to remember more than 3 things, I start slipping. Although, once the habits formed after about 30 days of consistently making them part of my day, I would begin thinking about taking cleansing breaths during the work day at my desk or on a plane trip to feel more lively and alert.

In addition to the health benefits of this breathing approach, you will find it very good for calming nerves and slowing anger. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel anxious or nervous, like before an important phone call or presentation, practice your breathing. Another good time to take cleansing breaths is when you feel angry. In both situations, it will relax you and lower your heart rate. These are the times when you want to be clear and calm in order to think on your feet, make the best decisions and respond properly to any unexpected situation.

So sit back, relax and breathe the air! It will feel like your very first breath...without the slap on your fanny, of course.