Breath is a requirement for Life!
Having lived through many infectious diseases including the influenza epidemic of 1918 and tuberculosis, which destroys the lung tissues as well as kidneys, spine and brain, Joseph Pilates understood firsthand the importance of keeping your lungs strong and healthy. He did not develop his system of exercise solely to be strong and fit on the outside, but to provide a system of health that strengthens the body on the inside, so you are able to enjoy life with energy and vitality.
So, first, let’s talk about what breathing actually does. It helps to reduce stress by bringing your nervous system into a parasympathetic state. It can increase the strength and flexibility of joints and assist in developing the musculature that will improve posture. The rhythmical pumping action naturally compresses and decompresses the spine, massages our internal organs, aids in digestion and helps eliminate toxins. The breath assists with the transport of oxygen and fluids throughout our bodies, particularly the lymphatic fluid, which relies on the breath and movement to pump it through our MILES of lymphatic vessels. This fluid helps to filter and purify your bloodstream, clean wastes from your tissues, organs and 100 trillion cells, and search out and destroy any harmful invaders that might enter your body. (Coronavirus)!
We can also get oxygen from what we eat and drink, and to a lesser degree from absorption through our skin, but our major source is through breathing. Increased breathing during exercise not only delivers more oxygen to our bodies, it also cleanses our lungs. Have you ever had a mild cough or clearing of the throat that occurred during exercise or deep breathing? This is the loosening and expectorating of the coating in our lungs which traps dust and particles that would otherwise hinder our absorption of oxygen. Unfortunately, the level of oxygen in our air today continues to decrease due to pollution, burning fossil fuels, and the destruction of the ozone layer. Fun fact, Paleontologists who analyzed air bubbles trapped in fossilized amber, discovered that oxygen levels were as high as 40% when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth! Today, our air is made up of around 20%. Exercise and good nutrition are the best ways to insure your body gets the oxygen it needs.
Did you know?
-80% of all our metabolic energy production is created by oxygen.
-The brain, which makes up 2% of our total mass, requires 20% of the body’s oxygen -Oxygen helps the body rebuild itself and maintain a strong immune system
-Research shows that our lung capacity decreases 5% with every decade of life.
-Foods that most deplete our bodies of oxygen are processed sugar, white flour, alcohol, and
caffeinated drinks. They force the body to use more oxygen in order to metabolize the added chemicals.
-Complex carbohydrates, raw fruits and vegetables are high in oxygen.
-Excessive stress, traumatic events, prolonged depression or anxiety, infections and chronically acidic systems, all greatly deplete your body’s oxygen reserves.
-Oxygen speeds up your body’s recovery after exertion, heightens concentration, alertness and memory, and is a natural remedy for headaches, migraines and hangovers!
Here are 5 Tips from the Lung Institute to Increase your Blood Oxygen Naturally
1. When the weather allows, open your windows. Access to fresh air is essential for breathing more easily.
2. Grow green things. Introducing live plants into your home will increase available indoor oxygen.
3. Exercise
4. Practice Mindfulness
5. Eat fresh, iron-rich foods
LISTEN TO JOE!
“To breathe correctly you must completely exhale and inhale, always trying hard to squeeze every atom of impure air from your lungs in much the same manner that you would wring every drop of water from a wet cloth..until they are almost as free of air as a vacuum.”
Practice with a straw to facilitate a strong exhalation through pursed lips. Start slow and work yourself up to exhaling twice as long as you inhale. Notice the sensations and actions in the body as you do this. If you experience light headedness, that’s normal, you're getting more oxygen to your brain!
Keep practicing!
