BREATHE FOR A LONGER LIFE

50s, 60s and Beyond — Breathe, Baby!

What about when we get to 50, 60 and beyond. What should they be doing?
As I got into my 60s, I asked myself, “What is the most important thing for longevity at 60?” It’s not running marathons. It’s not racewalking to break a sweat. I started a very rigorous breathing program. I breathe for an hour every morning.

Um, don’t we all do that? I’m pretty sure I am breathing right now.
Please — you know how people talk about breathing abdominally? Inhale, your belly goes in, exhale and it goes out? But where are your lungs? Your lungs aren’t down there. The majority of people never use their lungs when they breathe.

Think about the 60-something man with the chest dropped and the belly out so he looks eight months pregnant. He can’t breathe because his whole rib cage is crushing down. The lungs aren’t functioning, because at this point the rib cage is calcified. If you expand the lungs, you expand the rib cage. There’s no more pressure on the digestive tract, so it starts to function again. And then the swelling in the belly can go down.

Then how should we be breathing?
When you take a breath, it should expand your entire torso, not just your belly. Concentrate on feeling your breath from your tailbone to the top of your head. You have to think of breathing as a whole body activity, not just something that happens in one specific area.

And that counts as exercise?
It’s better for your longevity than running in a marathon.

This goes against conventional wisdom. People still think they’re not doing anything worthwhile unless they’re breaking a sweat.
It’s not that simple. It’s not about pushing yourself farther and farther. Pay attention to your feet when you’re in your 30s. Pay attention to your breathing when you’re in your 50s. And pay attention to your alignment — always. When people stop exercising the way they’ve always been told they’re supposed to exercise, they realize, “Hey, I’m standing better, I’m walking better, my digestion is better. I think I’ll keep doing this.”