Breathe stress and disease out of your body
The ancient breathing techniques of China and the Far East are given marvellous names like 'Falun Gong' and 'Qi Gong'. But the basic principle is the same. They all involve 'chi' - your body's energy.
A healthy body has a strong flow of chi; but if this energy flow is blocked, that part of your body loses balance and becomes ill. When you practise Chinese breathing, you use simple exercises to guide this chi to the right places, helping your body heal itself.
Whether you go for this idea or not, Western doctors also recognise the importance of proper breathing. Shallow breathing is often brought on by stress. In fact, it can make stress even worse, and cause panic attacks.
And it can make you ill. Your GP will tell you that breathing out carbon dioxide too quickly is likely to disturb the balance of acidity and alkalinity - known as pH - in your blood.
When the acid level drops, a complicated reaction takes place that actually keeps the blood cells from delivering oxygen to muscles and organs, including the brain. And if you think about it, the air we breathe is a kind of food for our physical and mental well-being. Here are 3 great Chinese breathing exercises to try out...
Three Ancient Chinese healing exercises
- DEEP ABDOMINAL BREATHING
This will cause your body to release endorphins, which are natural
tranquillisers. So you should become instantly calm.
In a standing position, slowly inhale through your nose, expanding your abdomen. Then allow air to fill your lungs. Then reverse the process as you exhale.
- EXHALATION BREATHING
Lie down on your back with your arms near your sides. Inhale slowly, raising your arms (elbows bent) towards the ceiling. Take them all the way over your head to the floor. Then reverse the procedure, exhaling as you do.
Do this several times. Then carry on the breathing but don't move your arms.
- QI GONG BREATHING
Stand straight with your feet together and eyes forward.
Then exhale.
Slowly inhale and stretch your arms as high up over your head as you can.
Lift up onto your toes, feeling the stretch all the way to your ankles.
Imagine that there is a silver thread running through your spine and pulling you upwards. Continue taking in small bits of air as you stretch higher and higher.
When you reach the pinnacle, begin exhaling slowly, letting your arms float back down to your sides. As you do, flex your wrists, pushing your palms downward.
Do this 8 times a day.
Stressed at work? Try these desk exercises
While Chinese breathing techniques are excellent, you can hardly start tapping into your chi in the middle of an office. You'd be the subject of a lot of worried water cooler chat. But if you do get into a lather at work, there are some ways to defuse the stress.
Maureen Opene is an online stress consultant who suggests that you try
these desk exercises:
- Raise your shoulders and try and touch your ears. Hold this position for a few seconds, then release. Do this about 10 times or until your shoulder feels less tense.
- Shake your wrist for at least 30 seconds. (Run cool water over the inner side of your wrist for 30 seconds, especially on hot days).
- Breathe in and hold your breath for a few seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat this five times
- Tense your whole body - clench your fists, screw up your face, close your eyes - hold this for few seconds then relax. (It's best to do this when everyone has gone to lunch/tea. They might think that you are nuts!).
- Focus on each corner of the wall in your office/home office. This helps relax the eyes.
- Rub the palms of your hands together really fast until they get hot then place your palms over your closed eyes and allow the heat to relax your eyeballs!
In the name of health, wealth and happiness...