There is much information on how to breathe properly, on why we don't, on why we should. Over the years I've explored a number of techniques and found them all interesting, some more useful than others. Thing is, I want a 'tool' that is simple, portable, easy and in Life, Travel Notes (scroll down to contents – click on Breathing – it's accessible and free) I give a three-breath exercise which provides such a tool. It serves me well if I need or want to take the time to relax and restores diaphragm breathing.
A few months back I got the notion that some sort of device that would remind me to breathe properly when I get slightly out of whack (like tending to revert to a shallow breath when excited or concentrating or in poor posture) would be beneficial. I was thinking some sort of bio-feedback. No luck coming up with something like this that was portable, simple etc.
But – and I find this interesting – my attempts to find something seemed to jump-start my body somehow and I found I was – well, monitoring my breath and when excited or concentrating or slouching – now do this: tongue against roof of mouth behind teeth, full breath gently into abdomen through nose, then breathe out with mouth slightly open, tongue relaxed, lips a bit pursed and making a sound of exhalation.
At times one such breath is enough. At other times I may do three or four before I go back to whatever I was doing. At still other times I find I go into the rhythm of counting silently to four on the in -breath and to eight on the out -breath. This usually continues and the breath then, easily and almost without effort, takes on a life of its own. It may then become effortless and the experience of 'breathing the body' happens. I came across this term in more than one of the books on breathing and I can't describe it better. It's when letting- go occurs and the present is experienced. You can't actually plan to let go; you 'prime the pump', so to speak and then the letting-go happens. Focus on breathing is a very good 'priming of pump'.