Just as our heart beats without us telling it to do so, we breathe continuously without thought, in and out, from the day we are born until the day we die. Oxygen is essential to our vitality. Because it is an unconscio
us act of our physical body, we don’t really think about our need to breathe.
Oxygen is not only utilized by the lungs, it is essential at a cellular level. Each cell of your body requires enough oxygen to remain healthy and continue to generate new healthy cells. Where there is a lack of oxygen in the body, disease can form. Oxygen alkalizes the internal environment and creates a condition in which good health can flourish.
Many of us don’t pay enough attention to oxygenating our body, but there are things we can do everyday to increase our oxygen levels and thrive from its benefits.
Make time to breathe! So you may be thinking, “Why would I make time to breathe when my body is constantly breathing without effort?” Many of us have no idea how to breathe. Many of us struggle with shallow breathing and our body has learned to hold the breath during times of stress. Observe your breath. When you pay attention to your breath, you can learn to expand it and reprogram your body to breathe more deeply.
Try this: Lie flat on your back and put one hand on your belly and one hand over your chest. Where do you feel the expansion? Try filling your belly as if it were a balloon. Practice deep belly breathing throughout your day and especially when you are feeling tense.
Another wonderful breathing technique is Nadi Shodhan Pranayama – in other words, alternate nostril breathing. It helps to clear out blocked energy and rebalance the subtle energy channels of the body.
Eat an oxygen rich diet! Fresh raw foods are alive. The nutrients and oxygen within them get passed on to you when you consume them. Raw juice is the easiest way to consume a hefty dose of nutrients and oxygenate the body through diet. Juice bypasses digestion; it is absorbed and utilized immediately. Processed or cooked foods lose their vital energy and cannot offer us the quality of oxygen that raw foods can. Going raw may not be appropriate for your constitution, but you can certainly incorporate more raw foods as a complement to your diet; consider more green salads, raw green smoothies, raw juices, wheatgrass, and E3 Live.
Circulate oxygen through movement! Movement causes us to breathe faster as our muscles work harder and require more oxygen. Movement helps to circulate oxygen, which keeps our energy flowing without stagnation. Take time to breath deeply, to nourish all the cells of your body while in motion. The more oxygen that gets delivered to your muscles during exercise, the more effective your workout will be, and the less likely you will create strain or injury.
Be good to yourself! Breathe, nourish and move your body, NOW!
