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

by Patrick McKeown

As you breathe, exert gentle pressure with your hands against your abdomen and chest. This should create resistance to your breathing. • Breathe against your hands, concentrating on making the size of each breath smaller. • With each breath, take in less air than you would like to. Make the in-breath smaller or shorter. • Gently slow down and reduce your breathing movements until you feel a tolerable hunger for air. • Breathe out with a relaxed exhalation. Allow the natural elasticity of your lungs and diaphragm to play their role in each exhalation. Imagine a balloon slowly and gently deflating of its own accord. • When the in-breath becomes smaller and the out-breath is relaxed, visible breathing movements will be reduced. You may be able to notice this in a mirror.