| We are now at the position where we can | | | | effective way to do this is to use an indirect |
| discuss more exactly the process that if followed | | | | approach. This means not trying to control the |
| will normalize your breathing. We have seen in | | | | size or length of holding of each breath, as that |
| earlier chapters that our breathostat or | | | | requires huge concentration and very careful |
| respiratory centre has somehow become set at | | | | training. It does mean using simple muscle |
| the wrong level.How did they become set at the | | | | relaxation which will make the depth of breathing |
| wrong level? One major factor is the false idea of | | | | less, and requires no control of the rate of |
| the usefulness of deep breathing, which is often | | | | breathing which is difficult. The key instruction is |
| combined with deep breathing exercises. A big | | | | simple and short.Shallow Breathing is: A gradual |
| long deep breath with a good stretch is good to | | | | reduction in the depth of breathing, by relaxing |
| relax. If you do it repeatedly, it will turn your | | | | the diaphragm and breathing muscles, until a tiny |
| breathostat the wrong way.Another factor which | | | | shortage of air is felt and then maintained.There |
| increases breathing intensity is over eating, | | | | are several key points. The first is that we are |
| especially high protein. Protein will increase your | | | | reducing the depth of breathing. When we do this |
| depth of breathing considerably. Animal proteins in | | | | the frequency or rate at which we breathe |
| particular are capable of producing powerful | | | | increases by itself. This is correct, and the rate |
| changes. If we use dairy products as an example, | | | | should not be interfered with. That would be |
| we can see the effect of all foods.It is commonly | | | | direct control of the breathing, which is far harder |
| known that consumption of milk products tends | | | | to maintain, and usually leads to a huge shortage |
| to promote the formation of mucus. This is | | | | of air which is followed by gasping. This is not the |
| almost correct. What happens is that the milk | | | | goal. So reduce the depth only.The next point is |
| causes an increase in the depth of breathing, | | | | that the way we do it is by relaxing the breathing |
| which in turn causes a loss of CO2. We now | | | | muscles, not holding them. The more relaxed they |
| know that reduced CO2 will tell the mucus | | | | are the more still you become. The more still you |
| factories [glands] in our airpipes and sinus cavity | | | | become the less deeply you can breathe. [If you |
| to produce more mucus. So the problem is not | | | | become still by holding or tensing you will develop |
| with the poor cow, but simply that the high | | | | sharp pains in your ribs as the muscles |
| protein levels cause an increase in breathing.Since | | | | complain.]The other key point is that our goal is to |
| the industrial revolution the amount of protein | | | | develop a training that can be done anywhere, is |
| consumed has steadily increased, along with so | | | | comfortable so it will not be avoided, and can be |
| called diseases like asthma and hypertension.Other | | | | combined with other tasks. The way to this goal |
| factors that increase the breathing include lack of | | | | is to allow only a tiny shortage of air to develop. |
| physical work, narcotics, and exposure to many | | | | It is all that you need. If it feels awful and |
| chemical agents.As your breathostat is exposed | | | | suffocating you have created a large shortage, |
| to greater levels of breathing and lower CO2 | | | | and should relax and start again. If you feel no |
| levels, it becomes conditioned to a lower level. | | | | shortage at all, become more and more still until |
| Then further deep breathing, perhaps as part of a | | | | you do.As part of this process, recognize that |
| fitness or health training, can turn it even lower. | | | | there is no rule that says you have to be |
| This training effect continues until such a low | | | | breathing all the time. If you find yourself |
| breathostat level is reached that your body takes | | | | breathing away with no real need or desire to |
| defensive action to avoid a catastrophe. In | | | | stop.An alternative way to start your shallow |
| asthmatics it restricts the breathing.It is a | | | | breathing is to do a measurement pause without |
| relatively simple strategy to reset your | | | | holding your nose. This really means that you stop |
| breathostat by exposing it to higher levels of CO2 | | | | breathing until you feel a tiny shortage of air. All |
| than it is used to. This is the opposite of the | | | | you have to do then is be relaxed and still enough |
| approach which lowered the breathostat CO2 | | | | to maintain that shortage.Am I Doing It |
| level, which was to expose it to lower levels of | | | | Properly?This is the most common and natural |
| CO2.We want an approach that will:a. Be easy and | | | | question. You are shallow breathing if you feel a |
| comfortable to do, | | | | tiny shortage of air, and you are comfortable. A |
| b. Be able to be done anywhere by anyone, | | | | shortage of air is a sensation that you would like |
| c. Be combined with other tasks so we do not | | | | to take an extra breath, but to maintain the |
| need to take time from your busy day.The most | | | | shortage do not. |