03/05/2021
Try this Belly Breathing exercise to give yourself a good reset. Swipe to the second picture for hand placement. Then read below for some lung facts!
1. Sit or lie flat in a comfortable position.
2. Put one hand on your belly just below your ribs and the other hand on your chest.
3. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and let your belly push your hand out. Your chest should not move.
4. Breathe out through pursed lips as if you were whistling. Feel the hand on your belly go in, and use it to push all the air out.
5. Do this breathing 3 to 10 times. Take your time with each breath.
6. Notice how you feel at the end of the exercise.
Did you know that we breathe 17,000 to 30,000 times a day!! While at rest, on average, you will breathe 16 breathes per minute. A breath is inhaling AND exhaling.
Everyone is familiar with taking a deep breath in, but most people don’t think about doing the same when exhaling. Our exhale is just as important and should be even a bit longer than the inhale.
We have four types of long volume:
1. Tidal volume - how much you inhale and exhale in an average cycle (approx. A 20 ounce bottle)
2. Expiratory Reserve volume - EXTRA amount of air that can be exhaled AFTER a normal exhale.
3. Inspiratory Reserve volume - EXTRA amount of air that can be inhaled AFTER a normal inhale.
4. Residual Volume - there is always a small amount of air left in the lungs which keeps the lung tissue from sticking together and helps regulate CO2 and O2.