Deep breathing so important to optimize mind, body

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY WE’RE IN THE 80S. JENNIFER: TIME FOR 11 FITNESS. JOINING US THE HEAD OF HEALTH AND FITNESS, TEDDY. YOU SOUND LIKE A KINK. I LOVE IT. >> I FEEL LIKE A KING EVERY TIME YOU GUYS HAVE ME ON. >> YOU’RE AWESOME. YOU’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MIND AND BODY TODAY. >> THAT’S RIGHT. SO WITH MAY BEING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PHYSICAL FITNESS AND OVERALL MENTAL WELLNESS. SPECIFICALLY, WHY DEEP BREATHING IS SO IMPORTANT. SO NOT ONLY OPTIMIZE OUR PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE, BUT ALSO INCREASE OXYGEN TO OUR BRAIN, WHICH HELPS STIMULATE COGNITIVE BRAIN FUNCTION. YOU READY? JENNIFER: LET’S DO IT. >> THE FIRST ONE IS CALLED PARCHED LIP BREATHING. IT’S WHEN YOU FORM YOUR LIPS LIKE THEY’RE BLOWING OUT A BIRTHDAY CANDLE. IT HELPS REGULATE THE CADENCE OF BREATH TO SLOW DOWN BEATS PER MINUTE. SIT UP NICE AND TALL, FORM OUR LIPS LIKE BLOWING OUT A CANDLE. BREATHE IN. JENNIFER: IN THROUGH OUR NOSE? >> IN THROUGH YOUR MOUTH AND OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH.MOUTH AND OUT JENNIFER: OH, OKAY. >> IN THROUGH YOUR MOUTH, OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH. GOOD. >> YOU’RE SLOWING DOWN YOUR CADENCE OF BREATH AND THIS IS REALLY GOOD BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOUR HEART RATE CAN GO UP WHEN YOU’RE DOING A LOT OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND RUNNING. SO THIS HELPS TO SLOW DOWN THAT HEART RATE. THEN NEXT ONE, JEN, IS CALLED DIAPHRAGMIC BOX BREATHING. SO, AGAIN, I WANT TO SIT UP NICE AND TALL, SHOULDERS OUT, CHEST OUT. BREATHE IN THROUGH YOUR NOSE, HOLD IT DEEP IN YOUR DIAPHRAGM, ENGAGE YOUR CORE MUSCLES. BREATHE OUT SLOWLY THROUGH YOUR MOUTH AND HOLD IT AGAIN IN YOUR DIAPHRAGM. NICE AND TIGHT, CORE MUSCLES ENGAGE. JENNIFER: YOU WOULDN’T THINK OF BREATHING AS EXERCISING, BUT IT IS. >> YOU’RE WORKING DIFFERENT MUSCLES IN YOUR BODY THAT ARE – RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING IN AIR AND EXPELLING OUT AIR, BUT YOU’RE ALSO WORKING ON THAT BREATH OF OXYGEN TO YOUR BRAIN. NOW, IN THE LAST ONE, JEN, MAY SEEM A LITTLE SILLY, BUT IT’S VERY EFFECTIVE. THIS IS CALLED THE LION’S BREATH TECHNIQUE. SO FOR THIS ONE, I WANT YOU TO HAVE YOUR HANDS ON YOUR THIGHS, FINGERTIPS SPREAD OUT LIKE A LION’S CLAW. NOW I WANT YOU TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH LIKE YOU’RE DOING A ROAR. NOW, FOR ME, I WANT YOU TO SIAHA, HA, HA. >> YES. AND THIS LION’S BREATH TECHNIQUE WILL FLUSH YOUR MUSCLES IN YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR NECK AND IT RELIEVES TIGHTNESS AND TENSION WHILE IMPROVING CIRCULATION. JENNIFER: CAN I SCREAM IF I WANT TO? CAN I REALLY ROAR? LET’S TRY AGAIN. JENNIFER: I’LL BLOW OUT THE AUDIO. IF I REALLY NEED TO DO RELIEVE STRESS. >> THAT’S THE BET THING, JEN. ALL THESE THINGS HELP YOU RELIEVE STRESS AND ANXIETY. ALSO BRINGING IN OXYGEN THAT HELPS YOU TO PERFORM AT YOUR OPTIMAL LEVEL PHYSICALLY BUT ALSO TO FLEX MENTAL MOJO AS WELL. JENNIFER: IT SOUNDS SILLY, BUT I BET YOU HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CLIENTS TO REMEMBER TO BREATHE WHILE THEY’RE EXERCISING. >> YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, JEN, BECAUSE SOMETIMES OUR REFLEX WHEN WE WANT TO LIFT SOMETHING HEAVY IS SO HOLD THAT BRECHT. WHEN YOU DO SO, YOU HOLD MORE TENSION. THAT’S NOT GOOD WHEN YOU’RE WORKING OUT. JENNIFER: THANK YOU, TEDDY, FOR JOINING US T

11 Fitness: Deep breathing so important to optimize mind, body

Updated: 1:33 PM EDT May 15, 2021

Teddy Savage with Planet Fitness explains the connection between mind and body.

BALTIMORE —

Teddy Savage with Planet Fitness explains the connection between mind and body.