Psychiatrist Alexander Lowen has studied how holding emotions in a locked state prevents proper breathing. This scientist has proven in his research that nervousness and anxiety during schizophrenia are related to how a person breathes. A schizophrenic person breathes mainly through the upper chest, while a neurotic person breathes shallowly through the chest. Dr. Lowen's research has also proven that learning to breathe properly can cure many diseases, and improper breathing can have a negative impact on our mental health.
There is an ancient Chinese saying, "He who has learned to breathe correctly can walk without exposing his shoulders to the sand." The Chinese have long known that proper breathing increases vitality and endurance. It is still believed that "the legs of a person who learns to breathe properly do not get tired." To make sure you are breathing correctly, ask yourself the following questions to assess your breathing habits. Pay close attention to how you breathe. Are you breathing through your nose or mouth? It is correct to breathe through the nose, and the inhaled air must enter the nose and be filtered, compressed and moistened. You need to alternately cover both nostrils with your fingers and check if there is anything in your nose that is preventing you from breathing. Also count how many breaths you take per minute. 16-20 breaths per minute is considered normal. How deep are you breathing when you are calm? Which is shallow, moderate or deep breathing? Are there other breathing noises? notice that Also watch your upper chest, pelvis and bowel movements. What do you feel when you exhale? When breathing properly, chest tightness is not noticeable. But the abdominal wall should be bent when breathing in and relaxed when breathing out. These breathing exercises and breath control techniques are your first steps in learning to breathe properly.