| Memory problems are often associated with the onset | | | | more time to develop and form connections. Of |
| of old age, but faulty recall can affect people at more | | | | course, a well-rested brain is also more likely to be |
| or less every stage of life. Even the most physically fit, | | | | focused and alert during waking hours, which means |
| intelligent, organized people can go through periods | | | | that you will be better able to retrieve stored |
| where it seems like they are unable to retain any | | | | information, and be less subject to "tip of the tongue" |
| information, or call up knowledge learned several | | | | syndrome. |
| months or years previously. | | | | Relaxation breathing techniques developed by yogis |
| Of course, treatments to improve memory problems | | | | tend to improve a certain type of memory called |
| are abound. These can include special mental | | | | spatial memory. This is the kind of memory that allows |
| exercises and (complete with instructional videos) and | | | | you to learn your way around new cities quickly, or |
| diets, which may be useful and effective. However, | | | | remember where you have placed important |
| they may be quite bothersome, and especially in the | | | | belongings. Here's an example: Hold one nostril closed. |
| case of diets, might cause unwelcome side effects. | | | | Inhale air quickly through the open nostril. (Your |
| Breathing is instinctual and natural. However, the very | | | | inhalation should be about a couple of seconds long.) |
| "unlearned" nature of breathing often means that | | | | Hold your breath for eight seconds, then open your |
| people develop less-than-optimal breathing habits. They | | | | closed nostril (while closing the other one) and release |
| end up breathing very shallowly, for example, or do not | | | | the air over four seconds. This exercise might sound a |
| exhale long enough to get rid of the carbon dioxide | | | | little strange, but some people who have practiced it |
| which is the poisonous waste of metabolic processes. | | | | regularly seem to have improved their spatial memory. |
| It turns out that proper-or improper-breathing habits | | | | Of course, getting used to "better" breathing patterns |
| have a significant effect on memory. Out of all our | | | | can be a bit challenging, at first. You might find the |
| bodily organs, the brain is one of the parts that | | | | exercises tedious, silly or even difficult. This is why |
| expends the most oxygen. Therefore, a great deal of | | | | many people who practice breathing exercises |
| oxygen in blood going to the brain will boost memory | | | | gradually build up their routine, starting with short |
| and other mental functions. Taking deep, regular | | | | exercises, then doing more and more repetitions over |
| breaths also has an overall relaxing effect on the | | | | a period of several weeks. Even so, the benefits of |
| body, which aids in memorization tasks. | | | | better breathing patterns are well worth the effort. |
| Better breathing or conscious breathing can make | | | | Hopefully, these improved patterns will become our |
| another, more indirect contribution to helping memory | | | | new instinctual breathing. People who get accustomed |
| problems. It can lead to better, deeper sleep every | | | | to these patterns will use them more or less |
| night, which allows the memory centers of your brain | | | | automatically, even in their sleep. |