The question: âAre you breating correctly?â may seem odd, and draw puzzled looks. But it is a valid question to ask, and the answer is even more important.
In fact, it is a question that we should all ask ourselves. Every moment of our life, we take our breathing for granted as it happens without our conscious control. Little do we realise its enormous impact on our health or well-being.
According to Kuala Lumpur-based yoga teacher and founder of Yogshakti, Shilpa Ghatalia, who has had more than 30 years experience teaching yoga, there are many myths surrounding breathing, especially surrounding the practice of deep breathing.
Many know about the importance of deep breathing, especially those who have participated in yoga classes. However, most people hyperventilate or breathe too much using the secondary breathing muscles of the chest.
Actually, deep slow breathing is very calming and therapeutic, if it is done correctly. It has to be effortless and smooth, and not laboured.
Before studying the nuances of deep breathing, Shilpa advised that one should start with the fundamentals of diaphragmatic breathing.
âAs babies, we did this (diaphragmatic breathing) naturally. As we began to grow and encounter life situations, which involved fear and stress, our breathing patterns changed from slow, smooth, effortless diaphragmatic breathing to erratic breathing patterns, that adversely affect our body and mind.â
Shilpa explained that the diaphragm is the primary breathing muscle which separates the chest and abdominal cavities.
âFor most people, especially women, who tend to grip their bellies, diaphragmatic breathing becomes difficult and as a result, chest breathing takes over. Habitual chest breathers suffer from various health issues ranging from poor circulation, anxiety and digestive ailments to poor quality sleep,â she said.
