Which mode of breathing you are adopting?

Chest-breathing or Belly-breathing

Let us have a simple test of the types of breathing you are adopting.
Put one of your hands on your chest, the other on the belly while you are sitting comfortably and breathe as usual.

Let's breathe in and breathe out.

If you feel that your chest rise and fall more prominently, then you are adopting chest-breathing. If you feel that your belly rise and fall more prominently, then you are adopting belly-breathing.


Is that important?
Yes!

Chest-breathing is also called shallow breathing that will not fill up the majority of the lungs with oxygen. It is the commonest way people breathe.

Belly-breathing is also called diaphragm-breathing or abdominal breathing or deep breathing. It helps to fill up the majority of the lungs with oxygen. It's instinctive that we acquired since birth without teaching and learning. Clinical studies showed that belly-breathing promotes weight loss as oxygen burns fat and calories and it's a key to sleeping well and be relaxed.

Therefore, we better practice more and master belly-breathing for better health.