A function as vital as it is apparently simple, breathing is in fact a complex mechanism that can be used to enhance your ability to do as much physical exercise as possible. It is obvious that the entire world breathes, but what is not so obvious is who is doing it correctly, using the best technique to enable the body to harness all its advantages.

Respiratory examination
Learning what type of breathing technique we use only takes a few minutes. To carry out the examination it is best to lie down with your legs bent and your feet well supported. To follow the route taken by the air each time you breathe, you should place one hand on the lower part of your stomach and the other on your chest as you breathe normally for a couple of minutes.

The most common outcome is that you will be using lung respiration where the upper part of the lungs are used and the abdomen and ribs ignored. It is also common to breathe rapidly, that is to say, with a respirations per minute (rpm) rate of above the average rate of 12-15 rpm. Another common error is to breathe in a superficial manner, which means that the oxygen does not penetrate the body sufficiently.

Ideal respiration
Having checked whether you are breathing correctly, the should be to adjust this modus operandi until the ideal state is reached, namely, a combination of the three existing breathing techniques (abdominal, intercostal and pulmonary). Ideal or complete respiration is when the air that is inhaled goes directly to the abdomen, and rises from the belly to fill the lungs, while the thorax expands to the height of the ribs. Having achieved this, the air should be expelled following the reverse pattern, in other words, begin exhaling at the height of the chest and finish with the air contained in the abdominal area.

Learn the technique
In order to carry out complete respiration, the best course of action is to practise each type of breathing separately until you have mastered the technique before attempting the combination.
- Abdominal breathing involves directing the air flow to the abdomen area exclusively until it expands, and exhaling until the stomach recovers its normal shape. This is an ideal way to breathe in moments of stress because it calms the nerves and lowers anxiety levels. It can also be a way of preventing gastrointestinal disorders caused by worry.
- Intercostal respiration is carried out by directing the air to the ribs and exhaling it until the area is vacated completely. This way of breathing improves blood flow and purifies the respiratory apparatus.
- Pulmonary breathing is usually the subconscious method of breathing consisting of filling the lungs up with air, seeing how the chest increases its volume, and exhaling it completely until the pectoral area is vacated. This technique increases thoracic capacity and gives you a sensation of vitality (common when you breathe deeply out in the country or on the beach).

Combining these techniques will ensure the body enjoys all the benefits mentioned above.
It will also help you to exercise better, as soon as you start using this technique on a daily basis.

Also when exercising
The aim should be to practise as you are exercising when the advantages of good technique are most clearly felt because the increase of oxygen reaching the cells will significantly increase the body's physical resistance and slow down the appearance of tiredness. You can thus exercise for longer periods with less physical effort because tired breathing means overstretching the heart. Learning these techniques requires some light training, but the long-term effects make all the effort worthwhile.