Errrrr yes??!!  Breathing oxygenates our bodies… oxygen is essential to support life to stay healthy and strong!! Ok so it may seem like an odd question to ask !! 

But seriously.. if you were to monitor yourself you would probably find that you have a tendency to hold your breath for short periods but at regular intervals during the day!! It maybe when you lift things or exert yourself, maybe when you eat, maybe when you talk !!

Many of us don’t take in enough oxygen by breathing  deeply enough into the rib cage..this can lead to stress on the body in general but my particular favourite is the neck muscles!!  So many of us have stiff necks and attribute it to stress, posture, etc etc well when you don’t breathe deeply or regularly enough your brain tightens some of your neck muscles to lift your upper ribs upwards to enable you to squeeze a little more air into your lungs!! This done regularly, causes the muscles of the neck to become stiff,sore…overworked!! How clever are our bodies!!! But neck issues aside,  oxygen is essential to our bodily functions..our muscles need oxygen to work properly. If they don’t get enough oxygen then thay can’t work effectively, which can leave you feeling fatigued, unfit, unwell even.

So start breathing with this simple exercise to get your brain into the habit and your body feeling the benefits of effective breathing ….

It is called the 4-7-8 exercise for relaxing and relieving stress and is a formula from Dr. Andrew Weil.

Any position is good. I recommend lying in bed or sitting in a chair to begin. Start by putting your tongue on the ridge just behind your upper front teeth and keep it there during the entire exercise.

Exhale through your mouth - you will make a whoosh sound
Close your mouth and breathe in through your nose for the count of four

Hold your breath for the count of seven

Exhale completely through your mouth to the count of eight - yes, you will whoosh!

Repeat four cycles total. This takes practice but you will love how you feel. Don’t change the numbers as you get good at this exercise. More is not better. Four-seven-eight is the key to success.

My students are always asking me to repeat those special numbers, so remember them. Do the exercise twice a day, or more if you like. If you feel a little lightheaded, especially in the beginning, just take a break. It will pass. That’s why it is a good idea to begin in a chair or in a bed. You can do this wherever you are to reduce your stress, especially when you are upset. This will also help you fall asleep, too and, the very best part is - it works like a tranquilizer. It’s non-toxic and it’s free!