In This Article
How to Strengthen Your Lungs
Experts are now proposing screenings for respiratory muscle impairment for individuals at higher risk from a viral infection. They suggest using breathing exercise for respiratory support before, during, and after a respiratory infection. Logically, if breathing muscles are weak, the intensity of any respiratory condition will increase.1
In an April 2020 study published in the American Journal of Medicine concluded that, “diminished respiratory muscle performance may contribute to the overwhelming burden imposed on health care systems due to viral pandemics. What is more concerning is that frequency of viral pandemics and the prevalence of the global population in poor health associated with impaired respiratory muscle performance are potentially both at the tipping point. In nations with high economic development, poor baseline health is now, unfortunately, the norm; obesity alone is present in 42.4% of the adult population in the United States and continues to increase.”1
Ayurveda recommends hundreds of different pranayama breathing exercises, each with their own subtle yet profound benefits. Modern hospitals employ respiratory muscle training techniques to strengthen breathing muscles.
Strengthen Your Respiratory Muscles
Breathing exercises called inspiratory muscle training (IMT) help strengthen the diaphragm, increase respiratory muscle strength, increase uniform diaphragmatic thickness and function, and help open the airways, making breathing easier.1
Studies suggest early diaphragmatic fatigue is quite common. In one study with elite athletes, 50% had early diaphragmatic fatigue.9 The diaphragm never rests; on average it contracts about 26,000 times a day.
In Ayurveda, almost all pranayama techniques will help strengthen respiratory muscles, but only a handful focus on strengthening specifically the inspiratory muscles. The diaphragm is the body’s major and most important muscle of inspiration. It is also one of the body’s major lymphatic pumps, primarily pumping lymphatic and undigested waste from the entire abdominal cavity.2-5
In one study, four weeks of respiratory muscle training, where inhalation was restricted by 50% has been shown to reduce hospital length of stay, mortality, and risk of intubation in patients at risk for prolonged hospitalization.1 In patients on ventilators, respiratory muscle training improves weaning outcomes and reduces hospital length of stay.1
This study concluded that evidence regarding beneficial effects of respiratory muscle training is strong, and the connection between impaired respiratory muscle performance, mechanical ventilation, and respiratory complications is also strong.1
Three–Step Ayurvedic Pranayama Techniques to Mimic Respiratory Muscle Training
Bhastrika Pranayama / Bellows Breath
Bhastrika, or bellows breath, is a series of deep, forceful, maximal inhalations and exhalations, allowing breathing to mimic a bellows. The benefits of bhastrika have been found to support brain, mood, memory, heart, and lung health, as well as helping the body cope with stress.6 I have been teaching bhastrika as part of my One-Minute Meditation for decades with profound clinical results.6
Bhastrika is both an inspiratory and exhalatory exercise for the respiratory muscles. It is rare to fully contract and relax the diaphragm in modern life, when most of our time is spent sitting, slouching, or in shallow breathing.
We Recommend Benefits of One-Minute Meditation with Bhastrika Pranayama (Bellows Breathing)
Bhastrika Outperforms Running in Lung Function Tests
In a study of 30 men ages of 18-30, half practiced bhastrika for 15 minutes and the other half ran for 15 minutes. They performed these activities six days a week for one month.
The bhastrika group saw significant improvements in numerous lung function tests compared to the running group. Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, peak expiratory flow, and maximum voluntary ventilation of the lungs were all higher in the bhastrika group. Only peak expiratory flow rate and maximum voluntary ventilation improved with the running group, but not as much as in the bhastrika group. Researchers concluded adding pranayama to athletic training could greatly enhance aerobic performance in healthy individuals and athletes.7
Kapalabhati Pranayama, or Skull-Cleansing Breath
Kapalabhati is derived from two words: kapala, which means skull and bhati, which means to illuminate. Kapalabhati is designed to accelerate breath from the lower abdominals, through the lungs, into the skull, supporting healthy drainage of toxins from the brain lymphatics (glymphatics), thoracic cavity, and abdomen.8
The emphasis of kapalabhati is on exhalation, where the diaphragm is relaxing. The abdominal muscles forcefully contract against the diaphragm, creating a powerful abdominal-diaphragmatic-cardiac massage, which supports healthy diaphragm function.
During kapalabhati pranayama, all five lung lobes are oxygenated, whereas during normal respiration, the lower lobes of the lungs are unused and considered dead space. Oxygenating the dead space not only boosts oxygenation potential of breathing, but enhances detoxification and fat burning—this weight loss potential is found mostly in the highly vascularized lower lobes of the lungs.8
We Recommend Kapalabhati Breathing for Blood Sugar, Weight Loss + Brain Cleansing: the Science
Pratiloma Pranayama and Ayurvedic Inspiratory Muscle Training
Pratiloma pranayama / Ayurvedic inspiratory muscle training is an technique that restricts air going through the nostrils during a maximal inhalation. Partially closed nostrils force the diaphragm to work extra hard, exercising the muscles of inspiration.
Numerous studies have been done on the benefits of pratiloma, but under a different name. In Western medicine, this technique is called inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and has been found to be an effective treatment for numerous health concerns, including breathing afflictions, heart health concerns, and digestive issues (such as GERD and reflux), along with significantly enhancing athletic performance.10-19
IMT has been effectively used in physical therapy to support healthy breathing for patients with compromised breathing.10,14,18,19
In hospitals around the world, devices are used to increase resistance during inhalation to strengthen inspiratory muscles, primarily the diaphragm. These IMT devices typically restrict inhalation airways by 30-50%.1 Pratiloma can do the same by simply taking a full deep and maximal inhale with the nostrils partially closed.
We Recommend Strengthen Your Lungs Now: Pratiloma Pranayama + Inspiratory Muscle Training
Three–Step Pranayama Practice for Optimal Lung Health
Watch attached video for a demonstration of this practice.
- Bhastrika: 10 breaths
- Kapalabhati: 10 breaths
- Pratiloma: 10 breaths
This is my favorite sequence for building lung strength. Practice 3-5 rounds 2x/day.
Note: As with any breathing practice, check with your medical doctor before starting a practice. Never practice breathing techniques near or in water or while driving. Pranayama technique are designed to be comfortable. If you experience any discomfort or dizziness, contact your primary care provider.
Great article!
Many thanks!!!
I’ll do the 3 exercises like in the film.
Is there a video showing how to do each of these breathing techniques?
Thank you
Found it,
Many thanks
Where is the video for the 3 breathing exercises?
The liver has a lot of contact with the underside of the diaphragm . It is attached to it with ligaments.
My opinion: the more toxic liver you have, and not paying attention, the less you breathe with belly ( diaphragm). Sympathetic vs parasympathetic nervous system. Liver has to many ignored functions. I observed, that it like to detox more when lying down on the bed. Horizontal. So it is important to breathe with diaphragm/liver/abdomen even when lying. Stressed and you will breathe more with lungs, not stomach. Less lymph processed in/thru liver. Breathing is sort of light detox. Lungs will expel some gaseous toxins and water from liver. Two ways. Why Rockefeller doctors/scientist don’t measure expelled toxins thru aspiration and strenuous exercise to check for fat liver toxicity? When dehydrated, liver will first lose volume. Scientists are finding toxins in sweat, tears, saliva, nasal mucus… and saying that Alzheimer isn’t from toxins! Don’t be afraid. Magic pill ( patented) is coming!
From internet:
Nerve Supply
The parenchyma of the liver is innervated by the hepatic plexus, which contains sympathetic (coeliac plexus) and parasympathetic (vagus nerve) nerve fibres. These fibres enter the liver at the porta hepatis and follow the course of branches of the hepatic artery and portal vein.
Glisson’s capsule, the fibrous covering of the liver, is innervated by branches of the lower intercostal nerves. Distension of the capsule results in a sharp, well localised pain.
Lymphatic Drainage
The lymphatic vessels of the anterior aspect of the liver drain into hepatic lymph nodes. These lie along the hepatic vessels and ducts in the lesser omentum, and empty in the colic lymph nodes which in turn, drain into the cisterna chyli.
Lymphatics from the posterior aspect of the liver drain into phrenic and posterior mediastinal nodes, which join the right lymphatic and thoracic ducts.
Thank you so much, Dr John, just reading it rekindles my energy! now I will study it deeply and practice! A great project to look forward to.
Excellent was looking for these kind of technique.
Hello ~ I can’t find the video either. Thanks.
Hi, I just found the video at the top of the article.
When doing the Pratiloma breathing, in his video, Dr. Douillard seems to be inhaling by using shallow breathing with his chest rather than belly breathing, and which I thought was the preferred way to deep breathe. Am I mistaken on that?
Good question.
With practice the belly is engaged first then the chest but is not noticed.
Be Well,
Dr. John
VIDEO at the TOP, all! (I had to look for it too…)
Thanks I wish that Dr John had spent more time demonstrating the actual breathing techniques and less time on the theory behind them, which was already described in the article.