Changes in your body that naturally occur as you age can cause a decline in your lung capacity, or the total amount of air your lungs can hold. According to the American Lung Association, the lung tissue that helps keep your airways open can lose elasticity, which means your airways can get a little smaller. The bones in the rib cage become thinner, which affects the structure of the rib cage. But it’s the muscles in the diaphragm that help your lungs expand and contract, and when the diaphragm weakens with age, it becomes harder to inhale and exhale.

Believe it or not, taking long, slow, and deep breaths is one of the best ways to strengthen your diaphragm. Breathing exercises train your body to breathe more deeply and more effectively. That’s just one reason why singing is so good for your overall physical health—it’s a workout for your diaphragm. And it’s also why Sounds Good Choir rehearsals start with breathwork and vocal exercises to warm up. Check out the vocal warmups from Sounds Good Choir conductor, Paul Langford, on our YouTube channel.

The American Lung Association also recommends several different types of breathing exercises. It doesn’t take more than five to 10 minutes a day!