North Columbus News

Master Coach Marilou Butcher Roth has highlighted the importance of proper breathing techniques in a recent column. She notes that many people tend to breathe shallowly, either in their chest or belly, and encourages readers to bring full breaths into their entire body for various benefits.

Roth suggests taking a moment to observe one’s regular breathing pattern before attempting deeper breathing exercises. She recommends lying on your back, possibly with knees bent for comfort, and then taking a deep inhale that allows the back and sides of the lungs to expand. According to Roth, "Your belly will automatically inflate; don’t worry, this is normal. As you breathe this expansive breath, your diaphragm will go up, which you most probably will not be aware of. As you exhale, let all of the oxygen out of your body, at which time your diaphragm will go down."

She credits her pilates teacher (who is also her son), physical therapist, and mentor for reinforcing the value of learning beneficial breathing methods. "Learning to breathe in a beneficial way is well worth the focus you will need at the onset of this endeavor. Believe me, it gets much easier as you practice, and practice you must if you want to reap the full benefits," Roth states.

Roth concludes by encouraging readers to spend a few minutes practicing these techniques daily: "Today, take a few minutes to follow the above exercise and see how it goes. Be patient and be easy, no forcing! Enjoy"