The Benefits of Deep Breathing (Part 1)

When we feel very depressed, in addition to exercising at the time, such as playing zorb ball, we can also relieve our bad emotions by taking deep breaths.

Take a deep breath—a good, deep breath—and let it out. If you feel a little more relaxed, you won't imagine it. Mental health professionals and yogis will recommend deep breathing because it can benefit your mental health, not just your respiratory system.

Types of breath

You are breathing every moment of the day, but you may not know that there are different types of breathing. In fact, there are four! The following are four types of breathing:

Eupnea
This may be the type of breathing you are doing while reading this article. This is breathing that happens when you don't think about breathing. Also known as "quiet breathing", both the diaphragm and the external intercostal muscles must contract.

Diaphragmatic breathing
Also called deep breathing, the diaphragm must contract during this type of breathing. When the muscles contract, the breath passively leaves the lungs.

Costal breathing
This type of breathing, also called "shallow breathing", uses intercostal muscles, the muscles between the ribs. When these muscles relax, air will leave your lungs. If you are stressed, you may be doing this type of breathing now (or even holding your breath unconsciously).

Hyperpnea
Also called forced breathing, due to muscle contraction, both inhalation and exhalation are active, not passive.

Why deep breathing helps
You may wonder why "just" breathing can be so powerful. Slow breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the "rest and digestion" system. Its job is to preserve energy for use in body processes such as digestion and urination.

Deep breathing also activates the vagus nerve, just like the boss of the parasympathetic nervous system, which monitors emotions, digestion, and heart rate. It will also deliver more oxygen to your brain and other organs.

Before you start the deep breathing exercise, take a minute to examine yourself to see how you feel, and then compare it with how you feel afterward.
If you want to know more about it, come and read the second part of Kameymall's article on this issue.