When we are under stress, our breathing can become rapid and shallow. Poor posture, diseases and aging can also decrease our lung capacity and make our breathing less efficient. According to healthandyoga.com, by consciously working on expanding the lungs' capacity with breathing exercises, we can counteract these factors. Deep breathing can relax the body and mind, provide more air for activities such as singing and exercise, and help to reverse the effects of respiratory conditions.
Observe Your Breath
Lie on your back on a comfortable, flat surface. You may want to lie down on an exercise mat or some blankets, for example. Observe your chest and abdomen move up and down when you breathe. If you are a shallow breather, most of the movement may be in your chest. If your breathing is deeper, you may see more movement in your abdomen. Just relax and watch passively for a few breaths.
Learn Chest and Abdominal Breathing
Slowly deepen your abdominal breathing. You want to see your stomach moving in and out with each breath, while your chest is fairly still. Don't force it--just allow your abdominal breaths to grow deeper and deeper for 20 breaths or so. When you're done with that, try focusing on chest breathing. Hold your abdomen still, while breathing more and more deeply into your chest for 20 breaths.
Learn to Take Full Breaths
Put it together. Slowly breath into your abdomen until it is full, then expand your chest until your lungs are filled. On the out breath, let your chest empty first, then empty your abdomen until your lungs are empty. Avoid the temptation to strain. Don't tighten up your muscles, attempting to force in that last bit of air, or to empty your lungs a little more completely. Instead, picture your breathing as a smooth, flowing wave, smoothly filling and emptying. When you get it, it will feel almost effortless Practice for at least 20 minutes a day, and you will see your lung capacity increase.
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