How to breathe for better health: 3 techniques
The human body breathes every day, all day. People don’t even have to think about it. But what would happen if we did think about our breathing? If we tried, could we breathe our bodies into better health? Increasingly, studies show that the answer is “yes.”
Deep breaths send a signal to the brain to relax. In turn, the body reduces muscle tension, blood pressure and anxiety. Each of these techniques provides an easy way to explore the health benefits of better breathing.
1. Calming counts
The calming counts technique starts with one deep inhale. Then, as you exhale, slowly countdown from ten to one. By number one, there should be no more air to exhale. The key here is to stay focused on breathing. If other thoughts come up, return your attention to the slow, calm process of breathing.
2. Abdominal breathing
When people are stressed, we tend to take quick, shallow breaths. Abdominal breathing works to counteract this by using more of the body to inhale. Begin by laying down. Cover your stomach with your hand. Take a long, deep breath and allow your belly to fill with air. Continue until you can feel air fill your chest, too. Then slowly exhale by releasing the air from your belly first, followed by your chest, until you have exhaled completely. Repeat.
3. Alternate nostril breathing
This technique is derived from pranayama, an ancient Indian practice. In alternate nostril breathing, the first step is to sit comfortably with your back straight. As you inhale, cover your left nostril, so air comes in through the right nostril only. When your lungs are full, cover both nostrils. Hold the breath briefly and gently. Then uncover the left nostril and fully exhale. Repeat for 5–10 breath cycles.
Better breathing is always available
Breathing exercises like these have long been used to calm the body and mind. Try them all, as well as others, to find the best method for you. As Dr. Christophe André writes in Scientific American, “Breathing is like solar energy for relaxation: it’s a way to regulate emotions that is free, always accessible, inexhaustible and easy to use.”
To experience the full benefits of deep, calming breaths, it’s best to draw in clean air. Coway Airmega air purifiers monitor indoor air quality, and provide optimal levels of fresh air in your home. Every Coway Airmega product is equipped with a HEPA filter that reduces air particles, as small as 0.3 microns in size, by 99.97 percent. As a result, every deep breath brings in pure air for better health.
Disclaimers
1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 100, 150, 160, AP-1216L, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S, ProX
299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S
5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.
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