The Oxygen Advantage: The Simple, Scientifically Proven Breathing Techniques for a Healthier, Slimmer, Faster, and Fitter You

by Patrick McKeown

On the other hand, healthy individuals who are relaxed and relatively free from stress will exhibit breathing that is abdominal: slow, gentle, calm, regular, relatively unnoticeable, silent, and through the nose. To achieve this type of breathing and reduce the negative effects of stressed overbreathing, it is important to activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system to elicit the relaxation response. To do this, you will need to adjust your breathing habits in order to properly use your diaphragm. Avoid sighing, panting, and breathing through the mouth, and become accustomed to slow, gentle, relaxed, calm, and quiet breathing through the nose. This is how we should breathe during rest every minute of every hour of every day. Within a very short time you will find that you feel calmer and more energetic and are able to sleep better. The positive effects of abdominal breathing will continue to transform every aspect of your health, including your sports performance. Another advantage of abdominal breathing is that it assists with lymphatic drainage.