Breathing techniques have been used by spiritual traditions since the dawn of time. Almost every stress reduction system of the modern age also includes some form of breathing exercises because breathing can be so helpful for calming down during stressful events and gaining access to your inner world.

I teach a form of breathing therapy, known as Longevity Breathing, which has been used for several millennia by the Chinese. What makes this system so unique is that it is modeled after the breathing pattern of a baby--the most perfect of human beings. If you watch a baby, you will see that their whole body expands/grows and shrinks/condenses with each in- and out-breath.

A common myth is that the lungs are the driving force for oxygen coming into the body. Actually, a muscle known as the diaphragm is the driving force for a full breath. Sadly, most Westerners don't move their diaphragms much as they breathe and therefore deprive themselves of life-sustaining oxygen to every cell in their body.

Another key technique used in Longevity Breathing Therapy involves making the in-out breaths continuous, without starts and stops (as practised in many systems). Many Westerners involuntarily hold their breath--even for just micro-seconds--and this causes a stress response in the brain that ultimately elicits a total body response that invovles nasty poisons being dumped into the body. Over time, the effects of hormones released during stress can be detrimental to your health, such as premature aging, disturbed thought patterns, negative emotions and bound or stuck places in your physical body.

By continually oxygenating the body with smooth changeovers from the in- to the out- to the in-breath, the stress response can potentially be countered with a relaxation response.

I write many articles to help you achieve whole-body breathing, without stops and starts, because research continually supports the fact that it's one of the most important skills that can be acquired to achieve long-term health and well-being.

See my list of articles on Longevity Breathing Therapy by clicking here.