There are two types of breathing:
Diaphragmatic breathing which can be done in various degrees of depth, and upper
chest breathing which is lighter and less satisfying, filling and emptying only
the upper part of the lungs with air. Both should be used during the day,
depending on the time, place and circumstances. Added to this, there is balance
breathing because just as much importance should be given to breathing out as
well as breathing in air. Some people make a great display of breathing in, but
make little effort to contract their respiratory muscles so as to squeeze out
as much air as possible from the lungs. Inhaling feeds the blood with the
oxygen it needs, exhaling removes the impurities. The lung act as a cleaning and feeding
station for the circulating blood. If you think of breathing in as the
nourishing part of the operation and breathing out as the cleansing part, you
can understand why balance breathing is so important. Whenever you breathe,
there is always a little more air that can be squeezed out of the lungs by
contracting the abdominal and diaphragmatic muscles until you feel that your belly
has been drawn in until it almost touches your spine. This is wonderfully good
for flattening the tummy too.
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MARCH 20
