Why is Body Breathing Essential to Good Health

I want you to learn "body breathing" as the trainers of athletes teach it. We want to get your whole upper body into your breathing. Here's how it's done. Breathe in slowly, through your nose, as though there were a great big balloon inside you to be inflated. Keep inhaling, feel the air filling the diaphragm and the abdomen. You're full to bursting? Exhale hard through your open mouth. Try it again. Purse your lips and start that slow inhaling through your nose. Fill your lungs, feel the lower abdomen tighten as it fills. Stand tall (think of good posture), fling your arms wide, open your mouth, and spill out the air. Jack LaLanne - Revitalize Your Life After 50

I learned whole body breathing when I was young because I suffered with asthma. My aunt was a professional singer and she taught me how to breath through an asthma attack. That was a life saver to me, not just because of the asthma, but because I had such terrible reactions to the medication that I was taking for my asthma. My body is ultra sensitive to medication, and this process allowed me to take much smaller doses, and sometimes none at all. Because of this training along with many other things such as watching my diet and eating healthy, I have very few problems with asthma anymore.
I have also learned that whole body or sometimes called, deep belly breathing also helps with my anxiety and depression. Oxygen is essential to our health an well being. Shallow breathing decreases the oxygen to our brain and other organs. By breathing deep, we can enhance the healing process physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Practice several times a day, especially when you are under stress. Take 5 to 10 whole body or deep belly breaths. Be careful in the beginning because you can hyperventilate and become dizzy or lightheaded. As with ALL exercise, start slow and build up gradually. I promise that it will make a difference in your life.