Breathing: Your Guardian Angel

YOUR BREATHING IS THE SHARPEST ARROW IN YOUR QUIVER!

Is your body threatened? Use your breathing.
Is your mind overwhelmed and scrambled? Use your breathing.
Is your spirit in danger? Use your breathing.
When you are in ANY kind of trouble, turn to your breathing ALWAYS and IMMEDIATELY.

Remember that mindful breathing bridges your mind, body and spirit and gives you clear access to each. It also brings all three into a sharp clear single focus so, almost instantly, you are as good as you can be at any particular moment.

Back when we were cave people, we would freeze-frame, in hopes that the tiger-of-the-very-long-teeth would not notice us standing there by the light of the silvery moon. That was then and this is now.

How then should we breathe now when we are scared witless? DON’T GET FANCY. Just keep your breathing moving, slow and deep and steady. Let your tension dissipate with each exhalation. Your body will be ready. Your mind will be focused and your spirit will give you guidance.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

From Grape to Raisin

A moist mucus layer that creeps along your inner passageways defends you from outside danger. The mucus “blanket” needs to be moist enough to be pushed steadily toward the exits of your nose, mouth, and stomach. Ideally the mucus grabs and traps invading infections, toxins and irritants. You then swallow, spit, sneeze or cough out the polluted mucus.

The invention of air conditioning and central heating is both a blessing and a curse. Certainly humans are more productive in Atlanta in August and Fargo in February because man has learned to manipulate indoor temperature and humidity. Unfortunately, your respiratory system struggles with the resulting drying effects.

You cannot afford to have your mucus shield dry out because that would be like wearing a dirty bandage. Since most of us aren’t willing to go back to the old uncomfortable system of no air conditioning and no central heat, we must find ways to compensate.

At home and work - drink more water than you think you need (coffee and alcohol don’t count). Don’t let the AC in the car blow directly onto your face. Use as little heat and AC as you can tolerate. When you feel yourself turning into a potato chip, breathe deeply in a steamy shower, breathe for a few moments through a hot wet washcloth or consider investing in a humidifier. Go outside as often as possible.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Snot Is Your Friend

Breathing Brooms

Deep Breathing – Why?

Lung tissue is composed of trillions of fragile microscopic bubble-thin air sacs that are tightly packed inside your bony ribcage. Since lung tissue itself has no power to breathe but must be breathed into, it makes sense to work WITH rather than AGAINST Nature’s design.

Your ribcage is shaped like a bell or a birdcage, narrow and rigid at the top, wide and flexible around the bottom circumference. Unlike the bell or the birdcage, your ribcage has a stretchy powerful muscular floor (the diaphragm) that plays an incredibly important role in your respiration.

The upper cage is small and tight with the higher short ribs anchored directly to your breastbone. Don’t be fooled by the width of your shoulders! Gently poke around and you will find the actual cage just below your throat isn’t much wider than your hand is long. I regard the upper cage as a kind of additional reserve tank to be used primarily when you are moving fast and you need more oxygen than the main (lower) tank can provide.

Unfortunately, we tend to “shallow breathe” when we are tired, bored, stressed, or glued to the computer for long hours. When you use your “emergency” tank as if it were your main tank, you are forced to expend lots of energy for few rewards. Fewer air sacs in the upper chest mean less oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange. Rigid upper ribs mean less pumping action.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Protect Yourself From Colds & Flu: Lesson Three

Swiping your hands under the cold-water faucet for five seconds barely wakes up the germs waiting to give you a cold or a stomach disorder. You’ve watched “surgeons” on television scrub up. Suds everywhere, scrub up to the elbows, fingernail brush working cuticles.

Since you probably don’t plan to take out a gall bladder today you probably don’t have to be quite that vigilant. Let’s settle for a little hot water, a little soap, and TIME. You will bring your hands into the “safe” zone in about the same time it takes to sing Happy Birthday to yourself (silently, please, thank you).

My personal favorite silent scrubbing chant is “Go away colds. Go away flu. Go away colds. Go away flu.” I find that one truly inspiring. It’s 20 or 30 seconds invested at the sink rather than ten days of a cough and runny nose. Your call.

Remember we are NOT playing Howard Hughes here but simply using our common sense to stay as healthy as possible.

Be well. Breathe beautifully.

Protect Yourself From Colds & Flu: Lesson One

Protect Yourself From Colds & Flu: Lesson Two