Do I Breathe Properly?

Better Breathing for a Happier Life

I can remember, as a young boy, standing in a plain, non-descript room with my father beside me while a doctor taught me how to breathe properly. During my early years I struggled with severe asthma, and I quickly learned to appreciate what it felt like to take an easy, satisfying breath.

Over the years, I have noticed with my clients how many of us don’t breathe properly — as strange as that may sound. By “not breathing properly,” I’m referring to shallow chest-breathing rather than the body’s natural, calming rhythm known as belly breathing.

What Is Belly Breathing?

Simply put, belly breathing is when the stomach expands as we breathe in and relaxes back in as we exhale. As the belly expands, the diaphragm moves downward, drawing oxygen deep into the lower parts of the lungs. On the exhale, the belly softens inward, helping the diaphragm rise and gently push stale air out.

“More oxygen, more vitality.”

In short, belly breathing helps us maximize the oxygen and carbon-dioxide exchange, energizing the body far more effectively than shallow breathing.

Bad Breathing Habits

However, many of us unintentionally reverse this rhythm — breathing in while pulling the stomach inward and pushing it out as we breathe out. We might even breathe without engaging the belly at all. These patterns often develop as unconscious habits, but the good news is that they can be easily retrained — and the benefits are profound.

Why Should We Belly Breathe?

According to the University of Texas Counselling and Mental Health Centre, "Belly Breathing allows one to take normal breaths while maximizing the amount of oxygen that goes into the bloodstream. It is a way of interrupting the 'Fight or Flight' response and triggering the body's normal relaxation response."

The Breath

The breath is the source of life — each inhale renews our connection with the richness of the world around us. When we take shallow breaths, we limit not only our oxygen intake but also our capacity to feel fully alive.

Breath is so basic and automatic that we often overlook it. Because it is the only bodily process we can control both consciously and unconsciously, it becomes a powerful tool for emotional healing and spiritual growth. Meditation uses breath as an anchor for awareness, and yoga places great emphasis on the importance of a deep, steady belly breath.

“A Natural Way to Detox and Clear Negative Feelings”

Breathing is also recognised as a natural detoxifier — physically and emotionally. Both toxins and built-up emotions can be released through intentional breathwork. In healing sessions, I often find myself yawning as I help clients process their emotions — it is the body’s way of clearing through breath.

Because belly breathing lets the diaphragm extend fully, it stimulates and revitalizes the lower lungs and abdominal area, supporting emotional release. This is why belly breathing is central to practices such as Rebirthing, Pilates, and the Art of Living.

The Healing Power of Belly Breathing

I draw my clients’ attention to their breathing because shallow chest breathing is strongly linked to anxiety and fear. The simple act of shifting into belly breathing becomes a powerful, natural remedy — a way of reaffirming life with every inhale.

If you’re not belly breathing yet, I encourage you to gently remind yourself throughout the day. It is one of the easiest habits to relearn because it aligns with the body’s original rhythm. And the more you allow yourself deeper, fuller breaths, the healthier and more grounded you will feel — physically, emotionally, and energetically.

Try it for yourself — your breath is waiting to support you.