Meditation Increases Lung Capacity

The long-term mental benefits of meditation have been well-documented. Anyone who has spent time in the simple practice of meditation has experienced the calming effect it has on the thinking process.

Quietly sitting and breathing, allowing the babble of thoughts to pass by, is one of the oldest practices in the world. While the main purpose of meditation is to bring clarity of thought, the physical changes that take place within the body are very significant as the body relaxes and begins to function more naturally.

Meditation is time away from the stress and tension of life. True meditation is not about emptying the mind or stopping your thoughts. Meditation is about turning the attention inwards and becoming aware of your physical body. By focusing on your breathing, you are able to let the thoughts pass without becoming attached to them. When you are focused on your breath, the thoughts flow of their own accord and you can find a deep inner stillness.

As the mind settles, the breathing begins to get stronger. The muscles of the abdomen, torso and chest can relax. As a result, you are able to take a deeper breath. A deeper breath means more oxygen coming into the lungs. The lungs begin to expand in order to handle the increased input. Lung capacity is basically the amount of oxygen you take in when you breathe.

Increased lung capacity gained through meditation can significantly enhance surfing performance. Surfers rely on breath control, especially when navigating waves or being held underwater during wipeouts. Meditation trains the mind and body to take deeper, more controlled breaths, which allows surfers to stay calm and conserve oxygen in high-pressure situations. With enhanced lung capacity, surfers can improve their stamina, paddle longer, and hold their breath more efficiently, all of which contribute to a better overall surfing experience. Additionally, the mindfulness gained through meditation helps surfers remain focused and composed, even in challenging conditions.

During vigorous exercise you fill your lungs to their capacity; however, during meditation lung capacity itself can increase. The deeper breath promotes the parasympathetic nervous system, decreasing blood pressure, slowing the heartbeat and aiding digestion.

 In order to maximize the effect of your breathing on lung capacity during meditation, it helps to have some specific points to focus on in order to bring your mind into alignment with your body. These points are general qualities of the breath that you want to have as a framework for your breathing.

Breathing Techniques

Deep and Long

Focusing on making the breath deep and long helps draw the air fully and completely within the body -- not in the sense of inhaling to the maximum and tensing up the muscles, but in the sense of actually feeling the breath reach all of the deepest recesses within. Keep the chest and surrounding muscles relaxed so you can allow the breath to expand within you. Then lengthen both inhalation and exhalation.

Silent and Slow

Focusing on allowing the breath to become silent and slow allows deeper relaxation. The silent breath is felt with the whole body instead of being heard. We become aware of the feeling of the lungs being filled. Slowing the breath relaxes the entire breathing process and helps you become aware of the lungs as they expand.

Even and Continuous

Focusing on keeping the breath even and continuous brings completeness to the breathing process. Keeping the breath even brings the mind into a meditative state where thoughts flow with the breath. Continuous breath is like a circle. Inhalation creates exhalation which in turn creates inhalation.

Learning to breathe effectively is like any other training practice. You must do it over and over until you become good at it. In order for the lungs to reach their full capacity, meditation needs to become a regular part of your training.     

Begin with sitting and breathing for five minutes a day. If you can’t find five minutes for meditation, you need to sit for ten minutes a day. Give it a try -- the benefits may be more than you expect.