For individuals with chronic lung diseases like COPD or asthma, doing breathing exercises may be very beneficial. Breathing exercises can strengthen your lungs and increase their capacity, so they help your body use oxygen more efficiently. In today’s blog, we are going to share with you a few breathing exercises that you can do to increase lung capacity.
Abdominal Breathing
- To do this breathing exercise, you will need to lie on your back either on the floor, yoga mat, or on your bed. Then, place one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen, and begin taking slow, deep breaths, feeling your stomach rise each time you take a breath. You will want to try to breathe through your abdomen and use your abdominal muscles to push all the air out as you exhale. Repeat this exercise five times.
Pursed-Lips Breathing
- This exercise is great for increasing lung capacity and helping you slow down your breathing. Start by inhaling slowly through your nose and then begin to purse your lips and breathe out as slowly as possible. Your exhale should take longer than your inhale, and the goal of this exercise is to breathe slowly. Repeat this exercise a few times to maximize the benefits.
Rib Stretch
- For this exercise, start by standing up and exhaling all the air out of your lungs. Slowly begin inhaling and hold your breath for 10-20 seconds (or as long as you can). As you are holding your breathing and counting, place your hands on your hips with your thumbs pointing forwards and place your pinky fingers on your back. When you are ready to exhale, return to a relaxed position as you exhale slowly. You can repeat this exercise three times.
Breathing exercises are very beneficial for your overall respiratory health and can help increase lung capacity. If you have any questions or concerns about your lung health, visit our website to learn more about our respiratory consultations or contact us with any questions!