When considering all the boss moves you’re making in life, you should definitely be proud, sis! But in between slaying your productivity for the day, did you also remember to take a moment to just breathe?

Yes girl, just take a moment right now to just take a deep breath in………and then a deep breath out. The power of the woosah never fails. However, studies show that the majority of people don’t breath correctly.

Studies from the U.S. National Library of Medicine show that over 50% of adults experience chest or thoracic breathing, a form of shallow breathing that contributes to a number of health issues including rapid heartbeats, anxiety, pain, and motor control deficits. This shallow or chest breathing draws minimal breath into the lungs and can result in dysfunctional movement and emotional patterns.

Breathing from the diaphragm or belly is what we all should aim for, where every deep breath goes straight down to the lungs and fills the entire body with oxygen. There are so many valuable benefits to deep breathing that benefit both our physical and mental health. Allocating just a few minutes out of your day to take a few deep breaths can help reduce stress, improve confidence, and improve the flow of blood circulation throughout the body.

But in case you need more convincing sis, here are 10 more reasons a deep woosah can benefit your health.

1. Reduces Stress And Anxiety

Studies from Harvard Health Publishing show that shallow breathing has a direct link to both stress and anxiety, and those are two things no boss queen has any time for! When taking a series of shallow breaths it sends the fight-or-flight signal to our brains which in turn tells our body that we are unsafe. This results in increased anxiety, panic, and hyperventilation as if the body were preparing for danger.

The solution to alleviating much of our stress and anxiety is to take deeper breaths. This fills our beautiful bodies with enough oxygen to reduce tension, normalize the heartbeat, and calm our state of being. If you notice yourself feeling stressed throughout the day take a moment to check your surroundings, check your thoughts, and take a deep breath.

2. Energizes You

Taking a moment to take a deep breath brings more air to our lungs which helps to energize the entire body. The increase of air supply to the lungs sends oxygen throughout your body that helps to increase metabolism and energy. With deep breathing, we provide our bodies with proper oxygen supply, which revitalizes all of our organs and gives us more daily energy.

3. Improves Digestion

If you’re wondering why you’re having trouble going to the bathroom, it could be because of your breathing, sis. Whenever you take a deep breath, the body receives more blood, which according to Loyola Medicine, helps the digestive system work more efficiently.

4. Calms The Mind and Body

The power of the woosah lies in the calm and soothing effect it has on your mind, body, and soul. The quickest solution during any stressful encounter is to stop for a moment and take a deep breath.

Deep breathing benefits our mental and emotional health because we’re breathing in the body’s natural state. Psychology Today reports that deep breaths stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system that triggers a response of relaxation. So before you allow someone to cause you to react, take a moment to take a deep breath. It might help change how you choose to react.

5. Detoxifies The Body

Between the polluted air we breathe in, the contaminated water we come into contact with, and the shady foods we eat on the low, our bodies are constantly dealing with a load of toxins. But deep breathing is one of the ways our body releases those toxins and purifies our system. When you inhale and exhale deeply, according to Harvard Health Publishing, the body releases carbon dioxide and many other toxins. So remember to let it go and let flow girl. Just breath.

6. Pain Relief

When experiencing any form of pain, our body’s initial response is to hold our breath. However, holding your breath only increases the feeling of pain. In order to relieve pain, take deep breaths to relax your body and ease the pain.

7. Regulates Weight

We’re all trying to maintain our curves. But who knew the secret lied in our breathing? Another added benefit to deep breathing is the way it helps to regulate our weight. For someone who is underweight, proper breathing helps supply their tissues and cells with more oxygen. While for anyone who is overweight, oxygen taken in during deep breathing helps burn extra fat on the body.

By taking more deep breaths, it helps us remain calm, cool, and collected while our bodies naturally burn fat. Sounds like an easy workout to me!

8. Improves Heart Health

Our hearts beat faster when taking small or shallow breaths. The heartbeat naturally slows down when taking deeper breaths. This is because deep breathing makes the lungs stronger and promotes oxygenation of the blood, the American Lung Association reports.

9. Improves Sleep

Every girl boss knows the importance of a good night’s sleep. The average adult needs at least six to seven hours of sleep every night to be at their ideal level of health and productivity for the day.

Through deep breathing, your body gets better sleep by alleviating stress and triggering a relaxed response. Deep breathing makes it easier for your body to naturally fall asleep through stress release.

So woosah your way to a good night’s sleep.

10. Improves Your Posture & Mood

In addition to all the amazing benefits deep breathing does for your body, it also helps to improve your posture and mood!

Healthline studies have found a direct link between incorrect breathing and incorrect posture. When our posture is off, it can make it difficult for us to engage in deep breathing. Practicing deep breathing naturally makes us sit up straight or stand taller due to our lungs filling up with air.

While improving your posture and boss queen stance, deep breathing also helps to improve your mood. While shallow breathing can lead to stress and anxiety, deep breathing does the exact opposite by increasing the production of neurochemicals in the brain. This, in turn, helps to boost feelings of pleasure and happiness and improve our mood.

Summary

You’re too blessed to be stressed, sis. So before sending that “as per my previous email” response to your co-worker, take a moment to take a few deep breaths. You might even find that the well-worded read you were about to serve is unnecessary.

Do yourself a favor and woosah, girl.

Ready. Set. Boss. Our daily email is pouring out inspiration with the latest #BlackGirlBossUp moments, tips on hair, beauty and lifestyle to get you on track to a better you! Sign up today.

Breathing technniques