The average breath rate is up to 12 times per minute and many of us breathe even faster. Rapid, shallow breathing can reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the blood which causes the arteries to constrict, reducing the flow of blood throughout the body. When this constriction occurs, even though the lungs are breathing in more oxygen than the body needs, the brain and body will experience a shortage of oxygen. This lack of oxygen can play havoc with the sympathetic nervous system, making us feel tense or anxious and less likely to think clearly.
Most people habitually use superficial breathing rather than diaphragmatic breathing. Retraining your body to use more efficient diaphragmatic breathing by using the Breather might reduce tensions, worries and pains that you didn’t think were connected, such as back and neck pain (1). Regular resistive breathing training (RMT) can cancel superficial breathing and promote diaphragmatic breathing.