Breathe Deep

Take a deep breath. You’ve no doubt heard that before. Whether, you’re stressed, frightened, overheat or just freaked out, a deep breath or two –or ten– is the easiest way to safeguard your health. And there are plusses–it’s free and, believe it or not—deep breathing enhances your sex life.

Six thousand years ago, wise teachers, the founders of yoga, discovered that deep belly breathing is the key to longevity.

The problem: You’re probably not doing it.

Most people use less than two-thirds of their lung capacity. Over time, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Think of your lungs as two footballs sitting inside your chest. That’s how big they actually are, and they can hold a lot of air.

Experts say breathe deeply and slowly, relaxing your stomach muscles on the inhalation and contracting them slightly on the exhalation for the most efficient breathing possible.

Here’s what breathing properly can do for you:

Lower blood pressure 11 points: A study in the journal Hypertension reports that just two 10-minute sessions of deep slow breathing can lower blood pressure as much as 11 points – as much as many patient get from blood pressure medications.

Deep breathing reduces the amount of carbon dioxide – a toxin — in your bloodstream – helps promote relaxation all over your body, even in your blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.

Stop hot flashes: Your breath is your body’s built-in air conditioner. Research at Detroit’s Wayne State University shows cutting your breathing rate in half—six to eight breathes a minute rather than a more stressed 14 to 15 – can cut your number of hot flashes in half – and even prevent them before they start. It works better than muscle relaxation and biofeedback.

Central nervous system activity speeds up when you’re having a hot flash, but deep breathing slows the central nervous system. Two 15-minute deep breathing sessions a day can eliminate hot flashes altogether.

Ease headaches: Using your shoulder and neck muscles – instead of your diaphragm – to lift your rib cage and expand your chest can lead to tension-triggered headaches. Deep breathing actually reduces the chronic fight-or-flight stress response and relaxes those tense muscles. Practice for just two minutes if you feel a headache coming on or to ease one already in progress.

Scientists at the University of California at Davis found that muscle relaxation from deep breathing reduced all kinds of pain by 40% and cut subjects’ reports of insomnia in half.

Double your pleasure: It’s impossible to become fully sexually aroused if your mind is elsewhere. In fact, many of us unconsciously hold our breaths during sex, and there’s no way you can have an orgasm if you’re holding your breath. Deep belly breathing during sex can help you relax – and double the power of your orgasm.

What more German research shows that breathing rapidly, almost panting, induces a slight dizziness and allows you to relax into a powerful orgasm. Bonus: Synchronize your breathing with your partner’s for orgasms neither of you will soon forget!