We all breathe and usually don’t think about it. However, the way we breathe has a significant impact on our wellbeing.
When we breathe through our nose, the autonomic nervous system switches between the nostrils every few hours. One nostril becomes congested and most of the breathing happens through the other nostril; then the nostrils switch. This is called the nasal cycle.
In my blog, I briefly mention that breathing through the left nostril activates the parasympathetic nervous system, putting our body in the ‘rest & digest’ state.
Following the same logic, breathing through the right nostril triggers the sympathetic nervous system—the ‘fight or flight’ response.
For more on the autonomic nervous system, please click here.
The nasal cycle is believed to help our body maintain a balance between being relaxed and being stressed. Breathing through the mouth takes away this opportunity.
Another important aspect of breathing is taking long, deep breaths ⇒relaxation 😌response, instead of short, shallow ones ⇒stress 😬 response.
Next time you find yourself breathing through your mouth, try to seal your lips and breathe through your nose. It's fascinating how a simple change can have such a big impact on health and wellness. I hope I’m able to help you breathe more consciously. 😊
Stay healthy and stay happy.