Breath, lungs, mouth breathing, nose breathing, the whole thing - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cmac2012 · #1 05-28-2020, 04:13 AM

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/27/862963172/how-the-lost-art-of-breathing-can-impact-sleep-and-resilience

Great show today on Fresh Air. He started off discussing an experiment with mouth breathing he once agreed to do. Fascinating stuff:

Quote:

Journalist James Nestor became interested in the respiratory system years ago after his doctor recommended he take a breathing class to help his recurring pneumonia and bronchitis.

While researching the science and culture of breathing for his new book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, Nestor participated in a study in which his nose was completely plugged for 10 days, forcing him to breathe solely through his mouth. It was not a pleasant experience.

"I went from snoring a couple minutes a night to, within three days, I was snoring four hours a night," he says of the forced mouth-breathing. "I developed sleep apnea. My stress levels were off the charts. My nervous system was a mess. ... I felt awful."

Nestor says the researchers he's talked to recommend taking time to "consciously listen to yourself and [to] feel how breath is affecting you." He notes taking "slow and low" breaths through the nose can help relieve stress and reduce blood pressure.

"This is the way your body wants to take in air," Nestor says. "It lowers the burden of the heart if we breathe properly and if we really engage the diaphragm."

There's a lot more. Talks about Taoist schools of breathing exercises.

Good timing for me as I'm working on resuming my Qigong practice, such as it was. It had a good effect on me years ago. Why I was so stupid as to put it aside is curious. After just a few days I can feel something good going on.

INSIDIOUS · #2 05-28-2020, 07:11 PM

I heard that show yesterday. Good stuff. I have been a life long swimmer where in the mouth and out the nose is the way to not drown

But I do nose breath at most other times.

cmac2012 · #3 05-28-2020, 08:19 PM

I love swimming but I was never good with the freestyle turn your head to breathe routine. I can do it but just can't get comfy with it. I prefer breast stoke, raise my head every other stroke to breathe, and back stroke, regular or elementary.

I miss the hell out of the excellent pool at the 24 hour fitness club, a mere 1.5 miles away. I've been paying dues the whole time. Wouldn't want them to go under.

Don't know about other forms of Chi Gong, spell it however you like. The one I learned is a Korean form called Sun Do (pronounced dough). After just a few moments in the first posture I can feel an odd sort of strength in my hands, just from the breathing. I recall when I attended my first introductory event with my teacher (photo), after two or three minutes I felt a cool relaxation coming over my face and head that was hard to describe - amazing and refreshing at any rate.

I suspect they are all similar, based on Taoist principles.

Kuan · #4 05-30-2020, 11:19 AM

Swimming for me is like riding a bike. i am completely natural with all the strokes although I don't know how I learned.

INSIDIOUS · #5 05-30-2020, 02:31 PM

Someone toss you out of a boat when you were young?

cmac2012 · #6 05-30-2020, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

Swimming for me is like riding a bike. i am completely natural with all the strokes although I don't know how I learned.

I swam a lot as a kid but for some reason didn't learn most of the strokes til I took a swimming PE class at college. That was when I first learned the breast stroke and the elementary backstroke.

Air&Road · #7 05-30-2020, 09:21 PM

Thank for posting this cmac.

cmac2012 · #8 05-31-2020, 04:11 AM

Glad you like it. I really shouldn't be so rude to you, sorry about that, you're all right.

INSIDIOUS · #9 05-31-2020, 02:04 PM

which ever way the wind blows

vwnate1 · #10 05-31-2020, 03:39 PM

This really is a thing .

I once had a Teacher who tried hard to teach me proper deep breathing, it works, no question .

Sadly I can't swim well either, dammit .

cmac2012 · #11 05-31-2020, 08:08 PM

The elementary backstroke is great for exercise IMO. Hard work with your arms above your shoulders not especially good for rotator cuff action. Elementary backstroke good for that, also ease of breathing.

Some of the vids show arms above head, in a horizontal way, but I go perpindicular from the body on down. Don't want to piss off my shoulders.

vwnate1 · #12 06-01-2020, 12:21 AM

Pay attention here boys ~ he's dead right .

My neck is broken and both shoulders mangled, the pain is endless .

Flexibility is great but BE CAREFUL .

t walgamuth · #13 06-02-2020, 07:52 AM

I do the elementary backstroke more or less, the side stroke one lap each side and the trudge. Swim about a half hour. Very low stress, very relaxing.