An art of life

“Breathing has always been a part of our wellness arsenal, but somehow as one grows older, breathing becomes less and less scientific. It becomes shallow, and we begin to breathe in the chest, rather than the stomach,” explained Yoga Instructor at Art of Living, Pauline Sebina.

“Many stress related ailments, whether physical, mental or emotional, may be caused by improper breathing, and fortunately, they can be easily reversed by adopting natural breathing mechanisms."

Breathing properly increases the lungs capacity to get more oxygen. The lungs’ main function is to help oxygen from the air we breathe enter the red cells in the blood.

“They then carry oxygen around the body to be used by every cell in our body. The lungs also help the body to get rid of CO² when we breathe out. Extra oxygen in the blood stream stimulates the excretory system, thereby clearing the body of harmful toxins. It also provides additional energy and vitality. “Have you ever seen a baby breathe”? Sebina asks rhetorically. In and out, deep and even, slow, easy and calm. If you look closely, you will see that it is not the chest that is rising and falling, rather it is the stomach. To put it more precisely, it is the diaphragm, the muscle between the chest and the abdominal cavity, which moves.

Now, compare this with your own style of breathing. Chances are that you will find that it differs. If you are like most people, your upper