Guess what is one of the simplest health practices and one of the least mentioned in any health publication, article, wellness seminar or spa offering?

Pause for a moment and ask yourself: "What am I doing thousands of times a day and exaggerate at times when I’m feeling really exasperated or highly frustrated?"

Some of these times you can even hear it!

Come up with anything? Well, what about when you whistle, hum a tune, yawn or sneeze? Now, you’ve got to be getting warm with your guess.

Still, not sure? Ok, here’s the clincher - What activates your parasympathetic nervous system, lowers your blood pressure, slows your heart rate and reduces muscular tension? Your marvelous exhalation -(more commonly called a sigh of relief).

Picture yourself caught in a horrendous traffic jam, or maybe nervously twiddling your thumbs waiting in a long grocery line or at the post office. Imagine what unconsciously happens with your breathing after you’re through with this stressful experience?

Most likely, you let out a soft, evocative "Whew! / Ah" sound or even murmur under your breath: "God, I’m glad that’s over!"

I have worked in the field of massage therapy and yoga instruction for 35 years. After people are trained to relax, I hear one of the following realizations: "I didn’t know I wasn’t breathing! I didn’t think I forgot to breathe," or "I didn’t realize that I was holding my breath!"

These contracted breaths are something that is quite common, because we become human doings instead of human beings.

We are so busy running around getting things done that we often overlook what’s literally right under our noses!

(If you put a mirror under your nose or if you are a smoker, you can see your breath).

Another amazing piece of respiratory trivia that I want to share with you is: that, according to Little Rock Yoga Studio instructor Cliff Riggs most of us "breathe with only a one third of our lung capacity." This breathing dysfunction can never be corrected as long as we listen to most fitness professionals, and other health workers who tell us to -"take a deep breath!"

That phrase should be lindelibly stricken from the English language, for it is a misnomer to say the least.

No truly deep breaths can be taken, until first we empty or let go of the previously held air in the lower pockets of our lungs.

As long as we’re grabbing voraciously for more air, we’re not using our time wisely, and simply letting go of all the old air in our lungs; automatically makes room for a full, invigorating breath of fresh air.

I suggest that we replace the old adage: "take a deep breath," with a more functional & life affirming one: receive a breath of fresh air.

This way of breathing is far more natural, enjoyable, and effortless!

In my preventative health book; Pictures of Health to Breathe & Move With, I’ve created almost 200 quick stress relievers I call: breathing movements.

It is very time-efficient, too, as each exercise uses only 30 seconds to 2 minutes of your time. Many of these teach first hand how to practice and use: "exhalation focused breathing" in various activities throughout your day. For several years now, I have traveled around Arkansas, and in other states practicing what I call the smooth yoga discipline, painting abstract art, and teaching others how to use art to design their own "stress relieving breath practices." This work has been most rewarding for me, because I know that lasting health improvements in our lives come from making little changes day by day.

One well known holistic health practitioner, Dr. Norm Shealy, (founder of the Shealy Pain Institute) stated that "three 10 minute relaxation breaks may be the single most important thing we can do for our health." In my massage practice and yoga classes, I have broken this down even more, encouraging people to use a single ½ minute to 2 minute moving breath exercise every day.

Here are some testimonials from people who took some breath training with me in Florida:

Nikki Q. of Navarre "This experience enlightened my heart and released my soul!"

Alicia H. from Cullman, Alabama "I feel that the breath exercise will allow me to find a peace & centering with a daily release of stress."

Nancy W. of Destin "It’s relaxing; breathing to feel energy-light coming through me."

Caroline C. of Niceville "I experienced a feeling of peace and harmony - knowing I can reclaim my power and be at peace with myself."

Jeaneen / Ft. Walton Beach – “It felt like ‘energy imprints’ that can stay or move as needed…”

I trust anyone really committed to their health who’s reading this article will invest some time and get deeply in touch with their incredibly healing respiratory cycle.

Do some form of deep breathing exercise 1-2 minutes each a day.