Slow, deep, rhythmic breathing can help you deal with stress more effectively and improve your ability to exercise. For most people, this type of breathing doesn't come naturally. The September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter says one way to learn better breathing is yoga -- which stresses breathing that's deep, smooth, even, quiet and free of pauses. Participants focus on breathing through the nose and deep within the diaphragm.
According to the National Institutes of Health, regular yoga practice can help reduce anxiety, slow breathing, lower blood pressure, alter brain waves and assist your heart to work more efficiently. It can help improve endurance and help prevent injuries during physical activity. On top of all that, it may just plain make you feel good.
If you want to give yoga a try, find a good instructor, preferably one who has studied and practiced for years -- not just a fitness instructor. Make sure your instructor can adapt yoga poses to different levels of flexibility and experience.
Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll-free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.
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