Breathing is one of the most fundamental functions of our bodies. However, getting that precious air into your body can be tricky if you have COPD. But, with the help of breathing exercises, you can overcome that hump and fill your lungs with valuable O2.
This article will cover three breathing exercises that will open your airways and are easy to do anywhere. After reading in full, you will have three go-to breathing tricks for those surprise attacks of breathlessness.
With that said, here are three breathing exercises you can do anywhere.
1. Face Up, on Your Back
This first one is easy because you only have to lie face up on your back. You can do this in a nice grassy field, or if you have a yoga mat handy, you can do this on soft ground.
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Lie on your back for 5 minutes, taking in short and sweet breaths until your airways start to clear. Once you can breathe a little easier, start to take deeper, more profound gulps of air to open up your lungs completely.
Research shows that deep breaths with proper body stabilization improve breathing patterns significantly. So don't worry if you look silly doing it because it may save your life in the long run.
You can even pull this off in the office if you have carpeted floors or an office couch nearby. The bottom line is to find somewhere comfortable to lay your head so you can successfully perform this breathing exercise.
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2. Pursed Lips
This next exercise involves making a kissy face while trying to get air into your lungs. Don't worry about looking silly because there is nothing wrong with performing a trick that will make you feel ten times better.
Even better, this one doesn't require lying on your back. In fact, it's best if you stand tall and proud as you pucker your lips to take in a refreshing breath. You can perform this exercise in four easy steps.
- Relax your body and get rid of all tension.
- With your mouth closed, inhale through the nose for 2 seconds, lifting your chest as you do so.
- Talk to your lips and let out all of the breath you just took in as if you were whistling.
- Do this for about 4 seconds and repeat as needed
Since this exercise does not require you to lie down, you can do this outside any building or residence, as long as you have enough space. It may even help to place your hands on your head and clasp them together.
Make sure you do not breathe too fast and adhere to the timing outlined in the exercise. If you do breathe too fast, you will hyperventilate, which has the potential to lead to spasms and lightheadedness.
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3. Introduce Mantras and Focus Words While Breathing
Focus words can be a great addition to your breathing session because they bring attention to how well you are doing and can highlight some points you may need to fix.
The words you choose are up to you, but most people tend to pick positive phrases such as, “You're doing good,” or “Just two more breaths, you got this!”
Coming up with your favorite phrase, you can then sit or lie down in a comfortable position while closing your eyes to visualize. You must think and say positive things to immerse yourself in a world of relaxation and deep breathing.
Before you start, make sure to truly focus on how deep or shallow your breathing technique is. Switching between deeper and shallow breaths is best to get the best effect from this exercise.
A great tactic that you can employ to help you focus is placing your hand on your stomach. You'll be able to get a sense of how much air is entering and leaving your body, allowing you to adjust as needed.
The more focused you become, the more your airways will open during this exercise. Happy Breathing!
