Breathing Exercises For The Lungs |

Photo Credit pilates-breathing stretching image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com

Many different forms of breathing exercise exist, designed to accomplish many different goals. Some use breathing exercises for relaxation, some to increase focus and concentration and some to purify blood and remove toxins. Breathing is the body's most important biological function. Humans can live weeks without food, days without water, but only minutes without oxygen. Breathing exercises specifically designed to improve lung capacity and function will help oxygenate your entire body and keep your lungs healthy and strong.

Step 1

Lie on a bed or the floor. Place your hands on your stomach and take a deep breath in. Allow your stomach to expand during the breath. Hold your breath for a few seconds when your lungs are full, then slowly release the air. This exercise gives you a sense of what taking a true, full breath is supposed to feel like, according to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Step 2

Breathe in through your nose in three short breaths without exhaling in between to execute a Chinese Tai Chi breath. Hold your arms up to the front at shoulder level during the first breath. Hold your arms open and to the sides at shoulder level on the second breath. Hold your arms straight up over your head on the third breath.

Step 3

Stand on a flat surface. Bend over at the waist at medium speed and exhale all of the air from your lungs. Straighten your body at the same pace and inhale through your nose. Hold your breath for 20 seconds and extend your arms over your head as you count. Lower the arms and exhale, as you bend over once again. Perform the cycle four times.

Step 4

Sit straight on a chair, bench or the floor. Exhale the air from your lungs, then inhale while relaxing the muscles in your stomach. Feel your rib cage and chest expand with the breath. Hold your breath for a few seconds, then exhale as slowly as you can. Relax your chest and rib cage as the air escapes. Pull your stomach in to squeeze out every last bit of air. Practice this breath for five minutes.

Tips and Warnings

• Practice breathing deeper in your everyday life. Pay attention to how you breathe throughout the day. Most people take shallow breaths from the chest. Concentrate on breathing deeply all day long from the diaphragm, so your stomach moves up and down, until it becomes natural.

Breathing