Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing with 3 Breathing Exercises Seniors Should Do Every Day
Proper breathing is more important than you probably realize, especially as we age.
Hyperventilation can result in pain, fatigue, and unsteadiness because the body is being deprived of oxygen.
Most people only breathe with their chest, which fills the chest with air, and that’s about it. The key is to perform breathing exercises while incorporating your diaphragm (stomach muscles). To know you’re doing it properly, you should see your stomach rise and fall with each breath.
Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing would like to share these three deep breathing exercises to keep your body working at its best.
- Breathe Heavy From Exercise
When you get short of breath due to exertion, you will naturally incorporate your diaphragm to draw in more air that your body is requiring. Thirty minutes a day of moderate exercise is recommended, but if you’re currently sedentary, talk to your doctor before starting an exercise regimen.
Additionally, you may want to try low-impact exercises like yoga and tai chi, as they help relieve stress and teach deep breathing techniques.
2. Belly Grab
When lying flat on the floor, place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. When you start breathing, try to keep the hand on your chest still while moving the hand on your stomach up and down as you inhale and exhale. As you exhale, try to squeeze your abs to force the air out.
Do this for at least one minute, twice per day. First thing in the morning and at bedtime are two great times to perform this exercise.
3. Sing Like No One is Listening
Whether it’s in the car, home alone, in the shower, or in front of an audience, loudly singing long verses causes you to inhale deeply, which is generally diaphragm breathing.
To learn more about the Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing and all of the services they offer, visit https://centershealthcare.com/cooperstown_center/.
