It seems we’ll just have to keep trying until we get it right.
Dr. Andrew Weil, a bestselling author and leading voice on alternative medical therapies, says that if he could provide just one suggestion for living more healthfully, it would be to “learn how to breathe correctly.” His reason is simple: Breath is the body’s best method for healing itself.
In a new two-compact disc set, “Breathing: The Master Key to Self Healing” (Sounds True, $24.95; $18.95 for cassettes), Weil provides a course of eight breathing exercises. The instructions are easy to follow, and you won’t feel at all silly about taking time to breathe. You can also incorporate several of the breathing exercises into everyday life.
One helpful tip: Whenever you think about it, attempt to squeeze more air out of your lungs at the end of exhaling. It strengthens the “intercostal” muscles and lengthens the period of exhalation. The result is more oxygen moving in and out of the lungs.
A 10-page study guide provides useful reference as you learn the breathwork. Weil has prescribed the exercises to hundreds of patients who have reported positive results.
If you are looking to learn more about how breath can transform your body and health, check out the 1999 book “Breathe In, Breathe Out: Inhale Energy and Exhale Stress by Guiding and Controlling Your Breathing” by James E. Loehr and Dr. Jeffrey A. Migdow (Time-Life Books, $14.95). It is filled with sample exercises and applies breathwork to such goals as stress management, mental alertness and sports performance. There is also a valuable section matching breathing exercises and various conditions, such as headaches, overeating, pain control and even dealing with secondhand smoke.
