Breathing: The Foundation of Our Lives

Breathing: The foundation of our lives. 

Part I: In the beginning.  

Breathing is probably something that most of us take for granted. After all we’re alive. So, we must be breathing. Right? Yes, it is true that we are alive, and we are breathing. Otherwise, we would be dead. Are we breathing in a way that keeps us healthy? A way that not only sustains our ability to function but also allows us to thrive. From my perspective, most of us are not breathing in a way that allows us to thrive. How could that be?  

Most people are mouth breathers. They breathe primarily through their mouths. We are designed to breathe our nose most of the time. You may say, “How can that be?”. The first breathing pattern that we shifted into after we were born, and after we stopped crying if we were smacked on the butt, was nose breathing. Our lips were closed, our tongues were on the roof of our mouths, and we were accessing our diaphragm to take air in when it contracts and allowing the air to go back out when it relaxed. Our rib cage was opening at the bottom and our little tummies were also expanding. If you watch a little baby or a toddler when they sleep, this is exactly the pattern you’ll see happening in their little bodies. You’ll also notice that they are completely relaxed and at peace.  

That’s because when they are nose breathing in this way they are primarily in the parasympathetic side of their nervous system. The side that is all about relaxation and restoration. If you observe them when they are active, even as toddlers, you’ll notice that they are breathing with their lips closed unless they are talking. The vigor of their activity can be pronounced and they still nose breathe. They are staying at least somewhat in that side of their nervous system that is more restorative.  

Over time we've transitioned into breathing through our mouths. There is a wonderful book that I highly recommend to everyone: “Breathe”, by Jeff Nestor. (Full disclosure I receive no compensation for mentioning Mr. Nestor's book.) He shares his own personal story about dealing with asthma, allergies and sinus infection from childhood to adulthood. Part of that journey was being introduced to a breathing class that provided him relief from those conditions and how it sparked his curiosity about how breathing impacted those conditions after they returned following his discontinuing the class. His investigation goes through a detailed history of when we started to switch from nose to mouth breathing. It’s fascinating and highly informative. It’s been a transformative book in my life as well as my work with my clients. It's also been transformative for many of my clients.