Breathing and Movement

Breathing brings oxygen into the body. The oxygen travels into the nostrils, down the trachea, and into the lungs through the bronchiole tubes. Waiting in the lungs are tiny air sacs called alveoli, which are situated near capillaries, or tiny blood vessels. Breathing is the fundamental biological process created to bring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to each of our trillions of cells so that they can do their jobs. Conscious breathing and the parasympathetic nervous system also work to reduce the anxiety that gets in the way of learning. Consider the affective filter that goes up when students are attempting to learn in a high-stakes context. Moreover, physical exercise also improves executive functioning with implications for increasing educational achievement outcomes. Breathing and movement are essential principles to be used in the classroom. Attention to the body through movement and breath will help students regulate behavior, down to the cellular level.