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Benefits of Proper Breathing By Teresa M. Chen Improper breathing has long been held as a common cause of many health problems. Tense people often take short and shallow breaths, which hamper the body’s normal function, causing disease symptoms like hypertension, insomnia, asthma, poor digestion, and headaches. When we practice deep breathing, the vague nerve sends signals from the brain to relax all the internal organs – the lungs, the heart, the stomach, the kidneys, the intestines, etc. Activity of involuntary cardiac and smooth muscles and glands, usually restricted to the autonomic-parasympathetic nervous system, can be influenced by the practice of deep breathing. Techniques of Deep Breathing: Breathing is life. Our life starts with the first breath and ends with the last breath. Ever watch an infant breathe in sleep? The little body billows gently with every inhale and relaxes gracefully with every exhale, showing
a natural rhythm. Since when have we lost this natural rhythm? To breathe life back to our rigid bodies, grown-ups have to re-gain this natural rhythm through training. Breathing exercises train us to breathe like a baby, deeply down to the belly (diantian) and even down to the feet (yongchuan), inhaling slowly through the nose and exhaling slowly and continuously. Breathing can be practiced standing, sitting or lying down. Different breathing exercises adopt different movements and postures, but their purpose is mainly to enhance the breathing. Hand and feet, head and eye movements have to be intentionally emitted from the diantian and integrated with the breath. Ready examples of qigong (Breathing Exercise) forms include baduanjin (Eight Section Brocade), taiji (Taichi), liutong and yoga (pranayama). The body stretches,
Practical Tips for Seniors Having worked with senior placement and being an advocate on issues surrounding keeping seniors Therese Johnson and the elderly in their home as long as possible, I have seen many times, the pain felt by an aging parent and their loved ones when old age hits in some way, perhaps suddenly, without notice and without preparation. With that in mind, here is a short list of very helpful tips to prepare you for aging in place.
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1. If buying a new home and are over the age of 45, be sure it is one-story with no stairs and a step-in shower, and that it within a relatively short drive of a hospital and emergency care.
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bends, sinks, and/or rotates in sync with the breathing-in and breathingout. People tend to hold their breath when they concentrate on various tasks, such as threading a needle, stringing beads, or working on computers.
Self-massage is yet another addon. Coupled with conscious and coordinated breathing, the mind directs the hand to do the rubbing, pressing, kneading, and/or thumbing on certain points or areas of the body surface.
To reverse the bad habit of incorrect breathing, we need to start with conscious breathing. Before the natural rhythm can be established again, we must practice consciously and regularly.
The combination of breathing, movement, and self-massage allows for immediate feedback of the various senses of warmth, relief, relaxation, and even joy, once we get over the anxiety of learning something new.
Lasting power of attorney gives a chosen individual the right to manage your affairs for you on an ongoing or permanent basis.
dentist at least twice a year, and get a dermatological cancer screening once a year.
4. Minimize or at least delay health problems common to the elderly:
2. Broaden your interests and stay involved socially to avoid painful loneliness later... join a club, class, or church, learn a hobby that gives pleasure sitting in place working with your hands, adopt a pet, etc.
- Maintain posture: sit straight, stand straight, and walk straight.
3. Set up a power of attorney now while you have ‘sufficient mental capacity’ to legally plan for how your money should be handled in the event of illness or death. Ordinary power of attorney gives someone a temporary right to handle your financial affairs.
- Work out with weights or other resistance training three times each week to slow the process of muscle loss all people experience after age 60.
- Walk daily and take the stair wherever you can. - Eat unprocessed foods.
About The Author: Therese Johnson is a Gerontologist and Senior Care Advocate, In-Home Care expert, and Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE) placement expert. She has been seen and heard on KAHI Radio, ACTV & Professionals Magazine, and is an educator for the Board of Registered Nurses (BRN) and the California State Legislature. She is also featured in Sacramento on the “Senior Moments” segment of MONEY 1055FM Rush Hour For Success. Find our more at http://www. SeniorCareofSacramento.com
- See your primary care doctor and your
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