When " just breathe" isn't enough
My thoughts about COVID-19
So here we have the first global chapter of a truly shared experience. An ( as of yet) incurable virus crossing borders with the same impunity as global warming, but with all of it’s impact focused on humans. Only certain segments of the population are at risk, but our survival still rests on our ability to form small networks and work together as we communally shift back in to our homes ( for whatever time this chapter takes).
As a movement explorer, teacher and healer I am ( of course) reading every article I can about how the Coronavirus affects us, and trying to create pathways to health. Full disclosure - I am not a medical professional, and even if I were, I wouldn’t have definitive solutions for you, but I do have some thoughts to offer up, as well as a breath work video to fill your quiet time, with plans of more to come.
First of all - the Coronavirus is primarily airborne, transmitted from human to human by coughing or sneezing. The virus then lands in the upper respiratory tract, where if you’re lucky, your body fights it off. If you’re not lucky, then it crawls down your bronchial tubes and when it reaches your lungs, your mucous membranes become inflamed. That can damage the alveoli or lung sacks, and they have to work harder to do their job of oxygenating blood, then removing the carbon dioxide from it so that it can be exhaled. This inflammation can lead to serious problems such as swelling, or additional fluids in the lungs, which can then lead to… death ( to make a long story short).
I watched this interesting video
on Coronavirus effects and treatments, and my take away was that we would benefit from increasing our tidal lung capacity while we are healthy.
What does this mean exactly?
Your lungs have a job : it is to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from your blood. This serves a larger purpose of helping cells regenerate, and removing unnecessary elements from your body. Tidal volume refers to the amount of air your lungs need to intake and expel in any given breath to keep your body functioning at a basic capacity. However, your “tidal volume” can be anywhere from 1/6 to 1/4 of your actual lung capacity, and the muscles that support your ability to breathe can be trained to handle much, much more than that.
I would like to add that another crucial function of breathing is to provide a constant “ pump” to many other systems in the body. The rhythm of the diaphragm contributes to digestive function. Pacing your breath changes your autonomic nervous system, allowing it to switch from parasympathetic to sympathetic in a matter of a few, focused minutes. The muscles engaged in stretching the lungs in order to inhale, or contracting to exhale deeply are toned through the act of contraction, which brings blood to the tissues, increasing overall health. Because the entire torso from the pelvic floor to the space around your sinuses is involved in breathing, training muscular stamina and capacity from this perspective will most likely result in more proprioception, circulation, mind body awareness and confidence in activation, all of which are great goals whether or not you’re trying to dodge a nasty, crown filled virus.
I’ve written a fair amount about the tangible benefits of breath work over the past few years and feel no need to repeat myself here. If you’d like to hear about how this type of deep core exercise can tone your abs and free up your stuck shoulders, you can click on the links I’ve provided, or dive in to the internet as you wish.
So back to the pandemic at hand, after learning more about how lung function is affected, I did a quick online search for breathing exercises to increase lung capacity and wound up at this website.
Of course, being a movement enthusiast, I tried their recommended exercises and wound up with a basket of additions and modifications. And then I filmed a class about it.
Ultimately, I prefer exercise that is motivated by curiosity and delight. The rushes, time shifts and deep personal exploration that await you when you begin to train the inside of your body are nothing short of riveting. If you can embark on a breath work practice because of the “ free high” and physical freedom you’ll experience afterwards, then my work on this earth is at least 1/3 done. And if you’ve wound up here, ready to breath because of fear and/or boredom, I’ve still got your back. Because I AM SURE that 5 deep breaths in to this workout, you’ll find something new inside yourself, and I encourage you to explore it.
Engagement, curiosity, euphoria and healthy stressors ( such as holding an end range in physical motion) have all been linked to physical health. I hope that one day it is scientifically proven that exploring your body’s capability for internal movement is as beneficial to your immunity as cardiovascular training and meditation. Because for me, these things are not separate.
My intention is to support us all in our return to self. No matter what your home looks like, you have what you need to explore your breathing space, and you won’t regret the time you spend doing it. You’ll need something to sit on, a theraband or a belt, and a pillow.
And you’ll need about 25 minutes. (It’s fine if you stop at 10 and do the rest later too)
Just breathe…. NOW