Home Articles Health advice

Most people do not breathe from the diaphragm and this means that they do not breathe deeply. When you do not get enough oxygen, suffer from anxiety. You are also likely to start breathing harder and this can strain the muscles on the front of the neck and cause them to become tired and sore. You can improve your lung capacity with the help of breathing exercises. You can engage in regular breathing exercises even if you don’t suffer from any breathing difficulties. Respiration, like your heart beat, is vital to life. Learning how to breathe properly can therefore greatly enhance the quality of your life and reduce the risk of developing various ailments. Here are some beneficial breathing exercises to improve lung capacity.

• Numbered Breaths: Close your eyes and inhale deeply. Then exhale until all the air is released from your lungs. Take a deep breath again and visualize the number 1 in your mind, while paying attention to your inhalation. Hold your breath for a couple of seconds and exhale, while imagining the number 2. Inhale again, picturing the number 3 in your mind; hold for a few seconds and exhale as you imagine the number 4. Continue in this manner until the count of 8 and then repeat the entire process. Once you are done, open your eyes slowly.
• Deep Breathing: This is the most simple breathing exercise which you can perform while sitting or lying down. Simply take as deep a breath as you can and then exhale slowly. You can continue doing this for a few more times. You can do anytime while at the office or while performing daily chores.
• Abdominal Breathing: Lie on your back in a comfortable position, place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdominal area. Take a deep, slow breath and feel the movement in your abdomen. You will sense from the movement of your hands that your abdomen will be higher that your chest. Exhale through the mouth and then inhale again through the nose. Hold for 7 seconds and once you finish counting to 8, breathe out slowly. Just as you are completing this, contract your abdominal muscles so that there is no air left inside.
• Rib Stretch: Another great exercise to boost lung capacity is the rib stretch. Stand erect and exhale all the air from your lungs. Inhale slowly and try to expand your lungs as much as you can. Hold the breath for about 20 seconds. As you count the seconds, place your hands on the hips. Then exhale gradually and repeat the exercise 2 to 3 times.
• Pushing Out: Stand with your back straight, bend forwards at the waist and exhale as fully as you can. Remember to keep the knees loose. Resume your original position and inhale as you try to fill your lungs with air to its maximum capacity. Hold this for 15 to 20 seconds. While counting down the seconds, raise your arms over your head. Then relax your body, exhale and bring your arms down. You can do this four times.
• Oriental Breath: Take three short inhalations through the nose without exhaling. On the first inhalation, extend your arms in front till they are at shoulder level. On the next inhalation, move your arms outwards to the sides and on the third one, raise your arms above your head. As you exhale, use a circular motion to bring your arms back down. Do this about 10 times.

Besides breathing exercises, you can also engage in aerobic workouts, cardiovascular exercises or yoga routines to improve your lung capacity.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.