We do it every few seconds of every day: breathe. The more than 70 trillion cells in our body require oxygen to function, so the more oxygen we can get in, the better our system works.

But the simple act of breathing has become not so simple. Why? Because of the constant pressure of stress, lack of exercise or sitting immobile at a desk for hours at a time, many of us do not breathe naturally. We’ve become lazy breathers taking short, fast breaths or even holding our breath sometimes versus taking long, deep inhales and exhales that utilize the full capacity of our lungs.

This doesn’t have to be the case. By taking just a few minutes each day, you can rediscover your breathing abilities, which in turn can help increase your energy as you get that all-important oxygen flowing through your body. The more you breathe in, the more carbon dioxide, a natural waste product, you breathe out.

According to Pat Guyton, a nationally PMA-certified Pilates expert, many people aren’t moving their ribs properly when breathing. In Pilates, breath is an integral part of the exercises, thus one of the first things Guyton teaches her students to do is breathe properly. “Our ribs were designed to expand and contract to accommodate our lungs,” explains Guyton. She suggests a simple exercise to work on this.

Put your hands on either side of your ribs and imagine that you’re an accordion. Breathe in and feel your ribs expand. Then breathe out and gently squeeze your ribs to force a bit more air out. On exhalation, envision your lungs as wet sponges that you want to wring out dry.

Because Pilates is based on the principle of balance, what you do on the right, you should do on the left. This applies to breathing and using both of your lungs. Guyton has a simple exercise to practice this.

While sitting in your car at a stoplight or at your desk at work, assume your lungs are the same size. Fill both up like an accordion and exhale eight times. Next, fill up your right lung more on the inhale while keeping the left as still as possible. Do this four times, then switch to the left and repeat. Now come back and do eight more balanced accordion breaths paying attention to keeping the breath equal on both sides. Remember to envision wringing the sponges dry on your exhales.

Also, try and breathe through your nose, which is a wonderful filter with hairs that line the nostrils to filter out particles of dust and dirt that can be injurious to your lungs. If too many particles accumulate on the membranes of the nose, your body automatically secretes mucus to trap them or sneezes to expel them.

So take a few moments each day to relax and breathe deep. Your body will thank you.

Rebecca Heaton is a sports and fitness writer and editor of the Rocky Mountain Sports magazine based in Colorado. She also contributes to a number of regional sports and fitness publications around the country.