Air Quality and proper breathing to stay healthy

Respiratory infections are rampant, all over the country. 

I recently happened across an article about the top air purifying plants, as determined in a study by NASA. Even a single houseplant can make a difference in your home's indoor air quality. Just one efficient 6- to 8-inch-diameter plant can clean the air of a 10-foot-square room. This caused me to look into this a little more closely.  We do have a couple of plants in the house, but perhaps we needed more! 

As with many things, the information varies, depending on the source.  I spent a good bit of time and feel fairly confident in sharing this information with you.

If you have pets or children at home,

these plants are your best choices:

·         The Spider Plant, or Chlorophytum comosum,

 Possibly the most popular house plant. It removes carbon monoxide and other toxins or impurities.

·         Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

Most plants with needle-like leaves are great air purifies. Rosemary can also help humans improve cognitive function and shield the brain from free radicals.

·         Jasmine

The scent of jasmine has a gentle and soothing effect on both mind and body.  One study found that jasmine reduced anxiety levels, which lead to better quality sleep.

·         Boston Fern

Good for air purifying and non-toxic, but it sounds a bit tricky to care for.  I, personally, wouldn't get one.

The following plants were the “best” for cleaning the air,

BUT… beware, they are only for homes without pets and young children. 

These few are toxic to pets and kids…

1. English Ivy (Hedera Helix)

2. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum Spp.)

3. Red-Edged Marginata (Dracaena Marginata)

4. Snake Plant (Sansevieria Spp.)

One of the most easy-care, low-maintenance air cleaners on NASA's lists. Widely known by the name mother-in-law’s tongue, this drought-tolerant plant has added benefits: It’s one of the few plants that produce oxygen at night, and it can flourish in low-light situtations.

5. Golden Pothos (Epipiremnum Aureum)

6. Jade Plant

7. Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina)

The general guideline is 1 plant for every 100 sq. ft. 

I definitely need to get more plants!

The quality of your breathing is equally important.

Are you the type that is constantly taking short and shallow breaths into the upper part of your chest? Or are you the type that takes deep breaths into your abdomen and up to your shoulders? Likely you do both at various times. The key is to recognize how you are breathing and be conscious of breathing properly in the moment.

Jim once went through a wellness / peak performance workshop that said, “the quality of your breathing is the quality of your life.” They taught us that proper breathing - deep abdominal breathing - leads to better performance mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Does breathing really make that much of a difference?

Isn’t it just natural? Yes and No. Breathing is natural, but notice the different ways people breathe, especially babies as compared to adults. Babies breathe naturally, filling their abdomen while most of us adults get just enough breathe to fill our chest cavity. I think we can all agree that babies are much less stressed and more aware than most of us as adults.

So what is the proper way to breathe?

James Loehr and Jeffrey Midgow, in their excellent book Breathe In & Breathe Out, define the proper breathing technique, or the natural breath as:

            Inhaling slowly and deeply, letting your abdomen expand like a balloon.

            Exhale slowly, letting your abdomen fall, releasing old, stale air.

            Press the air out as you contract or pull in the abdomen.

            Inhale easily again, and repeat, creating a deep and easy rhythm.

This process helps to relieve tension, improve energy and awareness, and aid in removing of toxins and maintaining chemical balance in the body.

So, as Pearl Jam, Faith Hill, and Johnny Diaz suggest… Just Breathe.