+1: #485 The Rules of Breathing

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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another optimize plus one. In our last couple 1s, we've talked about your breathing. If you haven't checked out the full optimal breathing 101 masterclass yet, you might dig it. For now, how about a quick look at the three simple rules of optimal breathing? Here they are. Number one, breathe through your nose. Number two, into your belly. And number three, exhale slightly longer than you inhale. One plus two plus three equals magic. How about a quick inventory, then a closer look? First, the quick inventory. Number one, are you breathing through your nose? Most people don't go look around and or in the mirror. Do you see a mouth gaping open? Number two, do you breathe deeply yet calmly and into your belly? Most people don't. Especially if you breathe through your mouth. Then it's shallow, it's not deep. Number three, is your exhale slightly longer than your inhale? This is the fastest way to relax. Now for a closer look. Rule number one, Breathe through your nose exclusively. Except when you're talking like I am right now, in which case you breathe through your mouth a little bit more. But when do you do that through your nose? I'll do so now, all day, every day, including while sleeping and training, which we talk about a lot in the class. Why do we want to breathe through our nose? Well, again, check out the class for a full description and or the notes on the oxygen advantage. But here's the basic idea. First, your nose filters, humidifies and conditions air in ways your mouth simply can't. Second, know that we never used to breathe through our mouths, except for the most extreme instances of physical exertion, like a lion chasing you. And third, when you breathe through your mouth, you tend to over breathe via short, shallow, fast breaths that disrupt the oxygen the carbon dioxide levels in your body. Although it might sound weird, it's the carbon dioxide that actually gets the oxygen out of your red blood cells and into your tissues and organs. And you need to slow down your breathing via your nose to get the CO2 right and as a result, the O2 where you want it. That's rule number one. Again, check out the class for more. Rule number two, breathe into your belly. You want to fill up the lower part of your lungs and flex that most underappreciated and underutilized muscle in your body. Get your diaphragm a Workout note, don't take big breaths via your mouth into your chest. Take nice, mellow, quiet, deep breaths into your belly. Repeat all day, every day. And rule number three, exhale slightly longer than you inhale. And this is actually the fastest way to flip the vagal switch and turn on your parasympathetic nervous system and relax. Whenever you think about it, exhale a little longer than you inhale. Finish strong. As we like to say at the Johnson House, squeeze your diaphragm, get all that air out. Why? Well, did you know that breathing is responsible for 70% of your body's detoxification, elimination and sweat only take care of 30%. It's kind of surprising. 70% of detoxing comes from your breathing. But guess what? If you're not breathing right, you're not detoxifying fully. And of course you're not fueling your cells properly and enter compromised vitality and increased potential of getting all the things you don't want. Therefore, nose, belly, exhale, Practice, practice, practice. Today's plus one. How about a nice deep, calm breath in through your nose, down into your belly, out through your nose with a nice long exhale. Let's do it right now. I always love a nice deep breath. Here's to your optimal breathing.

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