Radiant Living

increases tension, anxiety, irritability,
and headaches. It promotes depression
and chronic feelings of fatigue and
exhaustion.
Endeavor to get as much fresh air as
you can every day. Here are some suggestions
that may be helpful.
❖ Ventilation
Open the windows or set heating and
air conditioning units to bring in fresh
air. Air out your house everyday. Keep
proper ventilation in mind wherever you
are. Avoid car exhaust, tobacco smoke,
and stuffy ill-ventilated rooms.
❖ Deep breathing
Take several deep breaths to clear the
mind and increase the energy level.
1. Find the freshest air available. Go
outdoors if possible.
2. Stand erect.
3. Draw as much air into your lungs as
they will hold. Imagine it going right
down into your belly. Feel your stomach
expand.
4. Hold your breath for a few seconds.
5. Empty your lungs as completely as
possible; use your stomach muscles to
gently push out the last bit of air.
6. Repeat the process five or six times.
7. Take a fresh air break several times
daily.
Most people use less than half of their
lung capacity. They are not getting all
the potential benefits from the air they
breathe. Consciously use your stomach
muscles to fill and empty your lungs
several times a day, and deep breathing
will soon become a habit.
❖ Exercise
A good workout forces you to breathe
deeply and speeds up the circulation of
oxygen-rich blood throughout the body;
this saturates each cell with oxygen.
Whenever possible, exercise outside in
the morning when the air is cleanest.
❖ Posture
The way we stand and sit affects the
amount of air the lungs can hold. When
we sit up straight and “walk tall” we
allow them to enlarge and work at full
capacity. When we habitually stoop or
slouch it is impossible to breath deeply.
Superficial breathing soon becomes a
habit and the lungs loose their power to
expand and receive a sufficient supply
of oxygen.
❖ Clothing
What we wear affects the amount
of oxygen available for our use. Loose
comfortable clothing allows the lungs
freedom to inflate; tight, constrictive
clothing around the abdomen tends to
restrict breathing.
❖ Plants
From the rainforest, to the city park,
to the home, plants serve the very
important function of recycling the atmosphere.
They absorb carbon dioxide
from the air and produce oxygen for
us to breathe. Some provide the added
advantage of removing toxic pollutants
from the air.
❖ A rural environment
Fresh air has a different chemical
makeup from the indoor air most of
us breathe; it is ionized or electrically
charged, which is the primary reason
for its multitude of health advantages.
This air is produced in natural settings,
around trees and moving water, in sunlight,
and after thunderstorms.
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