FYI, you’re probably not breathing properly. Here’s how to do it right
How to harness the superpower of your own breath
We were shocked when we discovered we have been breathing the wrong way. Apparently, if done correctly, it can help us to feel healthier, happier and even sleep better, too. Richie Bostock, aka The Breath Guy and author of Exhale (Penguin Life, £12.99), tells us, “We take on average 19-27,000 breaths a day. However, most people are not aware that they are breathing poorly. The most common dysfunctional pattern is a chest or clavicular one, which is very common in people who are chronically stressed. Here you’re using your neck, shoulders and upper chest muscles, which are not designed to be used 24/7 and will fatigue, sometimes resulting in neck, shoulder and back pain. On top of that, this style of breathing is neurologically linked to sending the body into a stress response.” Of course, Gwyneth Paltrow is all over this and her Goop website has been recommending breathing techniques to aid wellness for years. And Richie refers to our breath as our very own built-in Swiss army knife. “Because we have conscious control over it, by simply learning how to use it as a tool, we can quickly affect the systems and functions in our body,” he explains. “Proper breathing can help to reduce stress and anxiety, increase energy, rebalance hormones, heighten focus and concentration, improve sleep and digestion, heal emotional trauma, alleviate chronic pain, improve cardiovascular health and even improve athletic performance.” Here are three of his fail-safe techniques…