Noses are for Breathing, mouths are for Eating

When doing breathing and awareness exercises, we generally prompt you to breathe through your nose. Why is this?

There are many beneficial reasons for opting for nasal breathing rather than mouth breathing, lets run through a few below.

• Nasal breathing associated with activation our Parasympathetic Nervous System known as our “rest and digest” system. Which keeps us in a relaxed state. Mouth Breathing is associated with activating the Sympathetic Nervous System, known as our “fight or flight” system.  This prepares us for emergencies, promoting a state of stress. 
• Nasal breathing is associated with abdominal breathing, where we utilise our diaphragm, which is our most efficient breathing muscle. Mouth breathing promotes upper chest breathing, using your neck muscles, an inefficient way to breathe.
• Nasal breathing created 50% greater airway resistance to mouth breathing resulting in a 10-20% more oxygen uptake, giving you more energy.
•  The nasal cavity is a reservoir for a gas called Nitric Oxide, which plays a vital role in the maintenance of good health increasing dilation of your blood vessels and air sacs in your lungs, ultimately improving oxygenation 
• Mouth breathing increases dehydration, you may experience this when you wake up with a dry mouth.
• Mouth Breathing is associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea.

So there you go. Controlled nasal breathing can transform your bodies ability to handle physical stress, so relax, and take a nice deep breathe.