Are You Getting Enough Vitamin O2?

The Human body operates on oxygen. Make sure yours gets enough by exercising, keeping your house well ventilated, and pausing frequently to take slow, deep breaths. 

Air Inventory
Right now, without changing anything about the way you are sitting or breathing, answer the following questions:


1. How are you sitting right now? Is your spine straight, or are you slouching? Are your shoulders        
    rolled forward?
2. Observe your breathing for a few moments. Is is shallow or deep?
3. Do the clothes you are wearing, or the chair you are sitting on, restrict your breathing?
4. Is the room you are in well ventilated, or is it closed and stuffy?
5. Have you (or will you) exercise today?

6. Have you eaten a high-fat meal today? (A high-fat meal reduces your blood's ability to carry oxygen.)
7. When was the last time you got up and moved around? Have you taken a break or done some deep breathing during the past couple hours?

Breathe Deeply
Take a moment to try this simple breathing exercise. It will energize and refresh you. Stand or sit with your back straight. Exhale deeply through your mouth. Now, draw the air back into your lungs through your nose. As you do, imagine it going right down into your belly, filling it. Feel your stomach expand as you inhale. When your lungs are full, slowly begin to exhale. Tighten the muscles of your stomach as you gently push the last bit of air out. Repeat the process, slowly, five or six times. Do this exercise when you wake up in the morning and several times during the day. If possible, step outdoors into the fresh air. Refresh body and mind by giving yourself a caffeine-free boost.


Your Challenge
Practice frequent deep breathing. Place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Breathe normally for a few moments, noting the movement of each hand as you inhale. Which hand rises more drastically? If it's the one on your belly, take it off and pat yourself back. You have excellent respiratory technique. But if it's the hand on your chest, you'd better take a deep breath -- though you probably can't. You're breathing wrongly!