The knees are bent to begin the exercise with the back in neutral. Gently straighten the knees, while maintaining a neutral spine. Hold for a count of 5-10 seconds and then release. Repeat 5-10 times. Few people take advantage of this free exercise, often holding their breath during activity and not taking deep breaths throughout the day.
Smoking also puts a cramp on deep breaths.
The lungs are housed in the thoracic cage. There are two lungs. Working around horses may cause two problems with breathing, allergies from the horse and allergies from being outdoors. It is important that precautions are taken to minimize allergies as they may lead to more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Wearing a filtered mask or even a bandana over the nose and mouth while grooming dusty horses or sweeping isles may cut down on some of the particles that would normally enter the lungs.