Air…
The air that surrounds us, is made up of a number of gases. Roughly by
volume they are –
Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, Argon 0.96%, Carbon Dioxide 0.04%, and
other gases like helium, hydrogen, methane, krypton, water, neon, nitrous
oxide, carbon monoxide, xenon, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, iodine, and
contaminants (pollutant particles, germs and toxins).
The most critical gas for our survival is oxygen, and without which we
could not live. A reduction of oxygen or increase in air pollution
(chemicals, particulate matter, biological materials), can reduce life
expectancy.
Anything below 19.5% is considered as oxygen deficient, Here are some
examples of oxygen deficiency –
16 – 19.5% tissues fail to obtain oxygen necessary to function properly,
increased breathing rate, accelerated heart rate, impaired thinking or coordination
12 – 16% causes tachypnea (increased breathing rate), tachycardia
(accelerated heartbeat), impaired attention, thinking and co-ordination
10 – 12% faulty judgement, intermittent respiration, and exhaustion
6 – 10% nausea, vomiting, lethargic movements and maybe
unconsciousness
6% or less oxygen produces convulsions, then apnea (cessation of
breathing) and death
Over 100 million years ago, oxygen percentage in air was around 35%, and
it has declined to today’s level of 21%. In polluted city’s and industrial
area’s, the oxygen levels are about 15% or lower.
It is clear that we require good oxygen supply and it is one of main key’s to
our health. Air is among nature’s greatest natural remedies. Many diseases,
illnesses and even chronic degenerative disease, can be traced to a lack in
the supply of oxygen in the tissues. Great thing about it, it is free.
We must practise good breathing and it is absolutely essential to fill our
lungs when we breathe. Most people practice what is known as halfbreathing,
only partially filling their lungs
A quick and simple breathing exercise that everyone can do –
Here is a quick way to test your respiratory:
Basically all you do is hold your in inhalation and exhalation.
Remember if breathing becomes uncomfortable, stop the exercise.
First sit or lay down and breath through your nose
Breath in and hold your breath, simultaneously start your stop watch. When experiencing breath hunger, simultaneously breath out and stop your stop watch. Record your time …………………….
Second exercise is in reverse, is that you hold your out breath, and record your time………………………………………………………….
If you achieved 0 – 15 seconds – you are breathing for 4 people
15 – 30 seconds – you are breathing for 3 people
30 – 45 seconds – you are breathing for 2 people
45 seconds and more, you are breathing for 1 person.
And the third exercise is just hold your breath, and time for 1 minute how many times you breath and record it…………………..
Ideally in my opinion you should breathe between 8-10 breaths per minute. Most medical professionals say between 14-16 breaths per minute. 14-16 breaths per minute can be considered hyperventilation. Symptoms of hyperventilation include increased stress hormones, muscle tightness, compromised digestion and increased feeling of anxiety.
Here is a quick and simple breathing exercise that everyone can do –
Breathing Technique:
- Create 10 minutes of time for yourself, morning preferably
- No noise, gentle meditation or yoga music or just good old nature
- Sit on a chair
- Sit up straight and butt right into the back of chair
- Close eyes, tongue on roof of mouth and nasal breathing
- Breath in through nose, expand stomach ( like inflating a balloon inside stomach)
- Hold breath for 5 seconds
- Breath out through nose, activate core and draw belly button to spine
- Hold breath for 5 seconds
- Repeat this breathing pattern for 10 minutes
- If breathing becomes difficult, reduce hold breath from 5 seconds to 3 seconds
- After a period of time, your breathing will become better, so increase your hold breath by 2-3 seconds at a time
- Remember always use nasal breathing
- Your main goal is to reach 45 seconds
