By Tyler Farrish …

When I first became a member of the team here at Nimble Fitness, I was asked by one of the owners if I understood the importance of breathing.  I answered yes without hesitation.  I understood the anatomy and physiology behind breathing, knew the vitality of air, and had personally come to terms with knowing that my own country-grown lungs would suffer a bit living in New York City.  However, to truly understand how breath is connected to everything we do–to be honest, I had never slowed down enough to really think about it.

Here’s what I found out: Breath is energizing, revitalizing, nourishing, and detoxifying.  It can be harnessed to relieve physical and mental stress, by triggering our Para-Sympathetic nervous system, and used to provide new-found energy.  Rhythmic breathing clarifies thought and helps you to be present in the moment.

Use these steps below to aid you in finding and developing your breath—it can be done anywhere, anytime!  To practice, begin by finding an area or space where you can lay-down comfortably.

  1. Lying on your back, place your hands gently over your lower ribs.
  2. Take a deep, slow, conscious breath in through your nose.
  3. Let the breath flow into your abdomen. Feel your rib cage expand into your hands, followed by a gentle lift in your chest.
  4. Your breath should come ⅔ into your belly, followed by ⅓ into your chest.
  5. Gently exhale through your mouth. Do not force the air out–just let it go.
  6. Strive for a “3-D” breath! See if you can feel the sides and back of your rib cage expand with each inhale.
  7. As you practice, you’ll feel your breath naturally slow down and deepen.
  8. Practice for 10-15 minutes at a time, as often as you’d like.

Happy Breathing Nimblers!