How to breathe well

Remarkably, many of us have forgotten how to breathe in a healthy way. This is what a full healthy breath should feel like:

The diaphragm descends as you inhale through the nose, and the belly, lower torso and lower back expand softly and fully.

The ribs expand in east and west directions.

The upper chest and upper back lift slightly when you near the peak of your inhalation.

The belly, ribs and upper chest return to resting position as you exhale through your nose.

The rhythm of your breath should be flowing with no holding on. The inhalation should feel expansive, energising and effortless, while the exhale should be silent and smooth.

This feature is an adapted extract from Breathe Well, by certified Transformational Breath Facilitator and yoga teacher Aimee Hartley (Kyle Books, £12.99).