JustBreathe

Why we breathe

It keeps us alive, and it does far more than that.

• Pumps blood and oxygen through the body.
• Delivers oxygen to the cells and organs for the processes that keep us alive.
• Maintains the balance of gases in the blood and throughout the system.
• Calms us down — less stress means more life.
• Deepens presence and awareness — our connection to the divine, and to one another.

Nose vs. mouth

The nose is for breathing; the mouth is for eating and speaking.

• The nose filters, warms, and humidifies the air before it reaches the lungs.
• Mouth breathing does none of this — and creates problems over time.
• Done chronically, it reshapes the face and teeth, pulls in less oxygen, and skips the filtering our nasal hairs would do.
• Nose breathing calms the whole system. It is the optimal way.

Exceptions: intense exercise, illness, or a medical condition such as a deviated septum.

How often?

Guess how many breaths we should take in a minute. The answer is lower than most people think.

• Most people breathe 12–20 times a minute.
• More breaths means shallower breaths — less oxygen in, less waste out.
• The target is 6–8 breaths a minute: deep and slow.

Practice makes better. Most of us breathe too shallow out of habit — return to your breath, time and time again.

Toxins, and where they hide

A toxin is anything toxic to the body that can cause disease.

• Sources: pollution, overeating, junk food, alcohol, smoking, stress, artificial flavors and colors, and inorganic chemicals.
• The body is an intelligent machine, built to hold onto vitality — homeostasis.
• The bad news: excess toxins have to be stored somewhere.
• The good news: the body has a way to clear them — the breath.

Breathing away the toxins

• Excess toxins in the bloodstream must be stored somewhere.
• The body builds fat cells to hold them, protecting the organs in the process.
• Waste from cellular activity is broken down into CO₂ and other gases.
• Those gases are routed to the lungs and exhaled.
• Every single breath is a small detox.

A method: box breathing

To calm yourself when stressed, or to fall asleep. Great before a presentation or a performance.

Honorable mentions

• Wim Hof / Tummo — powerful for presence and before cold exposure or exercise, but somewhat advanced and risky if done improperly.
• Returning to the breath during meditation.
• “Breath of Life” — a great guided one on YouTube, among many others.
• Find one you enjoy.