Do you ever find yourself holding your breath when you’re uptight or stressed or even for no apparent reason? Do you often feel lightheaded or like your brain is fuzzy after a long period of concentration on something important? We often don’t realise when we are really not breathing effectively and the problem with this is that it can have an ongoing negative effect on your wellbeing. Breath is Life Your breath is literally life-giving. If you are not breathing deeply (or not breathing at all for a short period) you are not taking life in! Let me be clear here, it is not a problem to occasionally hold your breath, and sometimes it is actually advisable – such as when you are going under water or when you walk past a smoker! Some activities such as target shooting and even yoga require you to hold your breath as a part of the practice – this is all okay! However, when you find yourself frequently holding your breath or taking short shallow breaths, this is when you have a problem! Stop right now and focus on your breath! It is often only when you focus that you can slow down and regulate your breathing and check that you are really breathing deeply. When you take a true deep inhalation your whole belly should expand as the diaphragm contracts, extending the