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| Breathe |
Of course you know the answer. If you don’t breathe you die. We can live without food for weeks. We can
live without water for several days but we can only live without air for about
6 minutes. Then the brain cells start to die.
If you are in a profession where you depend on your voice to sell a product, ideas and benefits then a quick
survey of your skills of breathing need to be assessed.
One of the ways I check breathing in my presentations and Speeches is to have audience members stand with the back of their legs against their chairs. Go ahead, stand up now and feel that chair behind your legs. That’s because when you breath gets thin you will want to sit down immediately, we don’t want any fainting! Your breath is your life and your vitality yet most people never think about breath as a reflection of their health. Here’s the test! While standing you will exhale all that “used air.” Let it make a noise as it escapes through the little round hole as you blow out the carbon dioxide. Then open your mouth and breathe in the oxygen filled air and let it make a noise across your vocal folds. Silently count as the air rushes in. When you can no longer breathe in, sit down and release your air.
One of the ways I check breathing in my presentations and Speeches is to have audience members stand with the back of their legs against their chairs. Go ahead, stand up now and feel that chair behind your legs. That’s because when you breath gets thin you will want to sit down immediately, we don’t want any fainting! Your breath is your life and your vitality yet most people never think about breath as a reflection of their health. Here’s the test! While standing you will exhale all that “used air.” Let it make a noise as it escapes through the little round hole as you blow out the carbon dioxide. Then open your mouth and breathe in the oxygen filled air and let it make a noise across your vocal folds. Silently count as the air rushes in. When you can no longer breathe in, sit down and release your air.
If you are breathing
well your count would be 20 or more counts during the inhale. The average
person has a count between 7 and 10. If you were in this range than remember to
go outside every day and breathe outdoor air. Indoor air contains other peoples
used air, pollutants including: paint and plastic fumes, chemicals, smoke,
animal and people odors, cooking odors and 100 other substances that you can
think of if you want to. IF your breath is on the weaker side practice diaphragmatic
breathing
Almost anyone can learn to breathe with diaphragm muscle
support. It does take practice. When you breathe deeply, you breathe
automatically through your nose. A good
way to start developing the diaphragm, the largest muscle in the body, is to
lie on the floor and pile books on your diaphragm. Close your mouth and breathe deeply through
your nose. Watch carefully as the books
rise and fall. Continue until you feel
the diaphragm pulling and strengthening.
When you are outside walking, keep your mouth closed as you inhale
nasally on a count of – one, two, three then exhale on a count of one, two, and
three. Remember when you are presenting information to others if you are
nervous or tense breathe! Now doesn’t this help you breathe more easily?
Carolyn Finch carolyn@carolynfinch.com
Communication LifeStyle Expert™ Speaker WWW.carolynfinch.com
Conventions-Conferences-Corporate and
Community functions 203 725 3133
Isn't it time to change your communication so you can change your life?
Good advice, Carolyn.
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