Boost Your Metabolism

I was reading Spa Magazine and ran across this article.  (Dec. 2008).  Since on the Second Floor, we were talking about the importance of oxygen, this article reminded me of those conversations.  So, I thought I would post it here.

Boost your metabolism

By Pam Grout

In addition to diet and exercise, there's another key to losing weight:  getting enough oxygen.  A rarely mentioned component of weight loss, oxygen fuels the metabolism, helping the body process food, release toxins, and produce energy.  Some experts estimate that 9 our of 10 of us don't get enough oxygen because we breathe only into our chests instead of deep into our abdomens, taking in a mere third of the air the lungs can hold.  Such deprivation causes the metabolism to slow down (making us tired and sluggish) and is every bit as bad as getting only a third of the sleep or food our bodies need.  The following five breathing exercises will help get your metabolism moving:

Focus on breathing into your abdomen, not your chest.

Always exhale a little longer than you inhale -  70 percent of the body's toxins are eliminated through the breath.

Stretch your lung muscles.    Once a day, inhale to your maximum and hold for as long as you can (comfortably, of course).

Relax your jaw.    It helps to draw oxygen into the lower lobes of your lungs.

Be mindful.  Honor your breath; it's an accurate barometer of your emotions and stress level.