Holidays! Take a breather and recover from all the stress of work. But are you breathing correctly?
Breathing is an essential part of life. We just can't do without it. Yet we don't learn about it in school. Unless you're singing, acting, or playing a musical instrument, most of us don't get a lesson in breathing. Fortunately, most of us can breathe well enough to survive. However, many of us take the wrong breath and that causes problems and vague complaints such as:
- Pain (and chronic pain);
- Acidification;
- Or just the opposite (alkalization);
- Fatigue;
- Cramp;
- Restlessness;
- Pressure in the head;
- Being irritable;
- Etc.
How do you know if you're breathing wrong or if you're doing it right.
There are several tests for that. There are several aspects of breathing that you should pay attention to.
- What is your respiratory rate?
How many times do you breathe per minute? - What's your breath?
Are you breathing very deeply or very shallowly? - What is your breathing pattern?
(in-out-pause or in-out-in-out or in-hold-out etc) - How do you get the air in?
Do you use the muscles in your shoulders, chest or abdomen? - What is your oxygen level in your blood?
Respiratory rate
Respiratory rate is easy to test. Take the following test.
Set your timer to 1 minute and count how many times you breathe. One inhalation and one exhalation together count as one breath. If you did, read the result below.
Less than 6 breaths per minute
You are probably very calm, very sporty or very meditative. People who meditate often have a lower breathing rate. People with a sporty constitution or who exercise and train a lot can also have a lower respiratory rate because their body absorbs oxygen from the blood very efficiently.
About 7 to 12 breaths per minute
This is a completely normal breathing rhythm. Most people will be in this category.
More than 13 breaths per minute
You may be nervous or feel uncomfortable. It is also possible that by focusing on your breathing pattern you immediately start breathing strangely. If you have this high breathing frequency without realizing it or without something going on, you are breathing too often. You may suffer from “chronic hyperventilation”. This means that you breathe too fast and too shallow, which changes your acidity. Both acidification and alkalinization can cause pain and cramps. It is important to learn to breathe correctly by doing exercises. Do this under the supervision of a certified respiratory therapist.
I myself have a certificate in Stans van der Poel's Energy Control system. If you want some advice about your breathing, you can send an e-mail or leave a comment in the comment section below.