Oxygen: The New Anti Aging Drug

Oxygen has become the new wonder drug. The simple art of breathing has taken the crown of sleeping. Just like the coconut did to kale and goji berries. 

Something we do subconsciously and automatically has now been broken down into a bunch of different systems and made to be complex. It can be overwhelming on which one to pick. To be honest they are all great. I’d probably just start with something simple which we will go over later. Like running 5kms instead of a marathon the first time you try. 

I’m currently spending many hours studying to become a Buteyko breathing practitioner because I truly believe faulty breathing mechanics are a big part of why people are in pain.

A patient of mine came in just before the lockdown. She felt the key issue to her back pain was her weak core. So we got the ultrasound out to see if her core was “weak”. Her pelvic floor wasn’t moving and the right side of her deep tummy muscles was flat-lining.

What was more obvious was she was using her neck muscles to breathe, mouth breathing, breathing rapidly and shallowly. I asked if she was asthmatic. She said she was a kid and had developed anxiety of not being able to breathe ever since. 

We did a couple of mindful breathing exercises to change her breathing mechanics and then all of a sudden her “weak core” was now functioning perfectly. It wasn’t her weak core that was the issue, it was her breathing pattern. Just like getting strong or fit this stuff takes both patience and time but being aware of it is a huge step in the right direction. 

So what’s the big deal with the breath anyway?

The breath is kind of like the on-off stress button. Stress is actually good for you in small doses. It’s how we evolve, become more robust, and more resilient. It’s also a bit anti-aging as well. Think of the Infrared sauna, cold baths, High-intensity exercise, and intermittent fasting as a couple of options of “good stress”.

Bad stress is different. It’s when the stress button is left on for a while. Like an IV drip of constant stress. Not helpful. Think pandemics, home schooling in lockdowns, work stress that lasts for weeks not hours. The nights you grind your teeth in your sleep. 

Changing your breath from those shallow rapid breaths to slower, deeper nasal breaths to your diaphragm or tummy is the quickest way out of that state and into the parasympathetic calm zone. The zone where we repair and do the good stuff our body needs. 

Interesting facts about mouth shallow breathing: it can increase oral cavities by 60% and increase your susceptibility to viruses by being a mouth breather when you sleep. It correlates with a bunch of chronic illness and auto immune disorders.

Taping your mouth when you sleep is now a thing people do to change to nasal breathing.

So what do I do Wim Hoff, Butyeko? I’m confused?

You can try Wim Hoff if you want. He has an app HERE

However, if you have been an asthmatic, suffer from breathing anxiety, or want to optimize your breathing pattern try the below

Step 1: Lye on your back with one hand on your chest and one hand on your tummy. Close your eyes and focus more breath to your tummy hand than your chest chest hand. Breathe in and out through your nose. The nasal breathing is really important.

Step 2: Make the breathing patterns 3 seconds in and 3 seconds out x 10 breaths.

Step 3: Now make them 5 seconds in and 5 seconds out x 10 breaths

Step 4: Add a 5-second breath-hold between 5 in and 5 out x 20 breaths

Step 5: Pat yourself on the back. That will do. Still feel as stressed? Probably not.

Step 6: Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do it perfectly the first week. Also don’t overthink it or panic.  You’ve survived this long breathing the way you have. Be patient. It takes weeks not days to get it better and you’re going to get events like a pandemic where you still get overwhelmed.

It’s a great tool to get that stress button off. You can do this exercise driving, you can do it walking and at your desk. You can even do it on a ski chair lift if you have a massive fear of heights like myself.

You know what….it could even strengthen your “weak core”. 

Here are a few breathing exercises:

Breathing The New Anti Aging Drug

Breathing Drill 2

Immediate Stress Relief Breathing Exercise

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