We usually take our lung functions and breathing for granted. We don’t consider the importance of our lungs unless we experience breathing problems, and the COVID-19 pandemic teaches us this!
Here are some basic exercises to improve your lung health along with its functional capacity.
- Practice Deep Breathing
Simply relax your face, inhale through your nose as deeply as you can, and exhale out through your mouth. - Take a 20-minute walk
Heading out for a daily walk—even if it’s as short as 20 minutes—offers a range of benefits that impact your mind, your heart, your muscles, and ultimately your lifespan. - Do Baby Push-ups
Though they mainly activate muscles in the arms and shoulders, they also engage muscles in the core and legs. It helps to loosen tight muscles and improve your posture, the key to maximum lung capacity. - Breathing Exercises
Out with the old, stale air and in with new fresh air. That’s the theme of the two most useful breathing exercises—pursed-lip breathing and belly breathing. - Practice Good Posture
Stand up straight, it’s easier for your lungs to fill with air and revive your body. - Running
Short bursts of cardio are good for your waistline but endurance sports like running or soccer are better for your lungs. - Swimming
Swimming helps strengthen our diaphragm and improve the elasticity of our chest wall. - Qi-Gong
Qi-gong (pronounced “chee-gung”) is a type of moving meditation that combines fluid, rhythmic movements with deep breathing and meditative practices to promote the overall wellbeing of the body, mind, and spirit. - Hiking
Hiking is another excellent aerobic exercise that can increase your stamina and maintain healthy lung function. - Planks
The plank is the perfect exercise to build a stronger core for breathing. - Strength Training
While increasing muscle mass doesn’t directly improve your lung health, it does improve your endurance by reducing exhaustion and breathlessness.
* All content published is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice.