Do you Breath, Think, and Stand Properly?

How Breathing, Posture, and Thinking Effects Your Whole Body

Monday, August 23, 2010

        There are 3 basic things we do in our daily life. We do them every day, automatically, without putting much thought into it. All three of these things, have a HUGE impact, on how we feel!

      The three things, many people do not pay enough attention to, are: their posture, breathing, and thinking patterns; at any given moment, of everyday. Doing any one of these improperly, causes an imbalance, on the other two. It is a balancing act. Just like anything in life!
     You need to make sure everything is balanced, in order for everything to function smoothly.
 Believe it or not, your thinking effects you’re breathing. For example, if you are suffering from mental stress (panic attack or anxiety), it can lead to dysfunctional breathing patterns. Dysfunctional breathing patterns will then lead to postural distortion; and “kinetic chain” dysfunction (the kinetic chain is made up of your muscular system, skeletal, and nervous system).
     So, say you are stressed/worried about something (it happens), it will cause your breathing pattern to be dysfunctional. Meaning, you are taking short, shallow breathes, which makes your secondary respiratory muscles work more than your diaphragm. Causing overuse, of the secondary respiratory muscles (the scalene, sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, and levator scapulae), and those muscles are not meant to be used in the breathing process, however they do play a key role is posture.
      As I mentioned, what is termed the “kinetic chain”, is made up of your nervous system, muscular system, and skeletal system. They all work together, in the overall physiology of the body. Logically this is why if one is "off" the other will be as well. An example of this is: when someone suffers a stroke, it usually physically impairs them as well.
      Just so we are all on the same page, here is a basic overview: your nervous system is made up of neurons and neurotransmitters, which are electrical impulses going from your nerves, to your muscles. Your skeletal system is made up of bones and joints, and your muscular system, is what allows movement; of your skeletal system.
       Continuing to breathe dysfunctionally, will most likely lead to altered carbon dioxide and blood oxygen content. This is what leads to feelings of anxiety. Breathing short, shallow breathes, can cause a lot of tension headaches, lightheadedness, and dizziness.
       In life, there are periods of time, when everything may seem to be overwhelming. It is normal, everyone goes through this at one point, or another in their life. The important thing is, how you handle those problems. Good stress management skills are essential, not only for you mentally, but physically, as well. 
       When things start to be too much, take a deep breath!! Make sure you take a breath from your diaphragm, and not your chest.
      Working out is an excellent way to release stress. Breathing correctly, is very important while working out as well. Try to stay conscious of your breathing patterns; it will make a huge difference!!








                                                                         Reference

      Clark, Micheal, Scott Lucett, and Rodney J. Corn. NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008. Print.