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Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

nytimes.com

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Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#51

Post by aham_34 »

aryamaan wrote: post #29
yogithrowaway wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

first 3-7 years of intensive physical practices then only begin to investigate pranyama. https://shadowyoga.com/newsletter/pra%E1%B9%87ayama/ """ Clarity about the required procedures, the appropriate tools and their use will allow one to tread the path of self-cultivation with the minimum of setbacks. Confusion will result in the multiplication of these setbacks, and the accumulation of injuries and disappointments…

> first 3-7 years of intensive physical practices then only begin to investigate pranyama. I would say this is slightly far stretched and discouraging for newcomers along with being misleading. Being regular with yoga for a few months (if not weeks), one can start doing pranayama. Having a person to guide you along is highly recommended but saying that investing multiple years and then exploring as a suggestion makes…

It's not exaggeration. These things require serious commitment.

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#52

Post by graeme »

maxxxxx wrote: post #48
graeme wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This technique appears to habe cured my physical anxiety. I learned of it six weeks ago, and had had such anxiety for two years post burnout. Now it's gone. I'm amazed. There were a couple other things that may have helped. I wrote down my main source of worry, and considered it in depth, worst case, odds, how to recover, and it became clear that it's not actually an urgent problem. Don't know which one had the great…

"Don't know which one had the greater effect, I did both at once. But I could feel the 4*4 breathing blocking a physical anxiety response in the middle of one happening. " To me it feels the other way. I feel the breathing opens up something that allows me to release the anxiety. In the end it's probably the same just from a different viewpoint.

I think so. Release could well be what happened.

Basically before the anxierty happened liked this:

1. Minor negative stimulus appears. I could feel the body react.

2. When I inhaled, and not before, my neck would feel some tension. This would persist a bit.

I had ried breath holding before, but that just delayed the stress feeling. Instead, I:

1. Held breath and counted to 4 2. Exhaled sharply 3. Inhaled a bit, and counted to four 4. Repeat if necessary

Thr new elements were counting, and the exhale before inhale. Followeed byna knowledge that I had two more steps to do: inhaling and counting. Rather than merely an uncontrolledminhalation and hope of no stress.

Interestingly, I rarely need the breathing now. My bosy changed its reaction to the minor stresssors. Maybe I’m just less on edge and less reactive, and the breathing helped my body come down from that reactive state.

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#53

Post by albanberg »

maxxxxx wrote: post #49
albanberg wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There could be many different issues that could arise, it depends on the person. I will note an experience that I had. I had been doing a Viniyoga practice for 1 or 2 years. I do pranayama in my asana (the physical exercises) and at this time I was not doing a separate pranayama practice. My teacher changed the pranayama in my practice and I became ill as if having a bad flu and I had some nasty boils break out on my…

Where do you practice? I would love to have a teacher that understands pranayama and can prescribe the right technique. Most teachers just know asana.

I practice on my own. In our tradition, yoga is taught one to one. There are some classes you can find, but the intent of these is to introduce people to the tradition and for people to get to know the teacher a bit before doing private sessions. Yoga is taught this way so that the program that a person follows has been customized for their situation. This can have a great effect.

Back to your question. My teacher is fully booked and not taking new students. He mostly does seminars and teacher trainings. His name is Chase Bossart and he studied with TKV Desikachar over a 20 year period.

I've had almost 12 years of study with Chase and I'm now teaching on a limited basis. There are other students of Chase here in the SF Bay area and there are many people who studied with Desikachar around the world.

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#54

Post by pasbesoin »

An injury and the result of subsequent surgery left me with severe, chronic congestion. Actually, the injury just made the airflow uncomfortably asymmetric. It was the surgery that really stuffed things up.

I lost my ability to achieve "hyper-focus". I remember more than fondly how my body would gradually settle down and into it. I'd feel a "oneness" in my body and purpose, including and especially the air flowing in and out, through my nose.

It turns out, surgery of the nose and area is known for this. (And I sought out one of the top surgeons in my area.) Don't use it unless you really need to. And then, make sure you achieve truly informed consent, with your surgeon.

I would never choose elective surgery, i.e. a "nose job".

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#55

Post by tgb »

bitexploder wrote: post #25
skilled wrote: post #2

It's interesting to see these modernization attempts for ancient wellness 'technology' that dates back thousands of years. I am, of course, talking about yoga, and more specifically -- pranayama. Otherwise known as the 'science of breath'. You don't have to believe in anything to practice different breathing techniques, and the results are absolutely there. I have met freedivers who build up their lung capacity stric…

One breathing technique and why I think the some of the Yoga works is pretty simple. I am not sure if Yoga would reset the fight/flight response further. 4x4 breathing. It mimics deep sleep and presses the reset button on the sympathetic nervous system. This helps with anxiety a lot. The technique is simple. Breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds , breath out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. I notice I do tend…

Is this technique supposed to be uncomfortable to do? I've come across this and tried it multiple times now and holding my breath is not particularly pleasant. I've seen this suggested to help one fall asleep but it's never helped me and my response is usually mild discomfort. Not sure if this is intended.

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#56

Post by all2 »

tgb wrote: post #55
bitexploder wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One breathing technique and why I think the some of the Yoga works is pretty simple. I am not sure if Yoga would reset the fight/flight response further. 4x4 breathing. It mimics deep sleep and presses the reset button on the sympathetic nervous system. This helps with anxiety a lot. The technique is simple. Breath in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds , breath out for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. I notice I do tend…

Is this technique supposed to be uncomfortable to do? I've come across this and tried it multiple times now and holding my breath is not particularly pleasant. I've seen this suggested to help one fall asleep but it's never helped me and my response is usually mild discomfort. Not sure if this is intended.

You don't necessarily have to do 4x4 to make this work. For example, I sometimes do 8x4 (I guess I count double-time) breath-hold. Or sometimes I do 4x1, where there's just a slight pause at the hold.

I think a big piece of breathwork is changing the focus of the conscious mind. When you're focused on your breathing and counting, you're not focused on whatever else is out there.

Play with it, find something that works for you.

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#57

Post by bitexploder »

maxxxxx wrote: post #48
graeme wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This technique appears to habe cured my physical anxiety. I learned of it six weeks ago, and had had such anxiety for two years post burnout. Now it's gone. I'm amazed. There were a couple other things that may have helped. I wrote down my main source of worry, and considered it in depth, worst case, odds, how to recover, and it became clear that it's not actually an urgent problem. Don't know which one had the great…

"Don't know which one had the greater effect, I did both at once. But I could feel the 4*4 breathing blocking a physical anxiety response in the middle of one happening. " To me it feels the other way. I feel the breathing opens up something that allows me to release the anxiety. In the end it's probably the same just from a different viewpoint.

I think the experience of it is subjective based how you perceive fight/flight (anxiety). What we know is this pushes some buttons in the nervous system, and I think how we perceive that can vary a lot, but the objective result is similar for a lot of people. What is cool about this technique is you can’t cheat it. It will cause the reactions due to the way breathing works in the body and the automatic responses wired to that.

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#58

Post by bitexploder »

aryamaan wrote: post #33
bitexploder wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I meditate a lot and I think you got me for a half a breath. Then I just “let the breath happen.” It’s pretty weird to be able to do that (I have only been meditating for a few months).

> “let the breath happen.” This is the one part I specifically struggle with one I am meditating and focusing on my breaths. They are never happening on their own but run in manual mode.

I can’t even remember when, but at some point I was just beside my breath and not controlling it. Guided meditation can help here. Sam Harris (Waking Up) is good. I found some of the concepts in how to meditate he presents lead to some noticeable improvement in my practice.

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#59

Post by pbhjpbhj »

toyg wrote: post #11
Etheryte wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I'm not a scientist in the given field, my personal experience is that people get used to smells very quickly. That's also why historically manual dry rot searchers were notorious for running around buildings fast — once your body gets used to the scent, it's filtered out. I doubt an hour in a given environment would give you much advantage over say five minutes.

It’s actually one of the clearest showcases for humans’ astonishing talent of adapting to their surroundings. You can throw humans in shit-filled holes and, after a few hours, they just won’t care about the smell. It shows, at micro level, the sort of skill that led our species to planet domination.

I think accustomisation differs considerably by person and mood, and probably other factors?

I don't seem to be able to accustomise to ticking clocks, but other sounds I can. Some smells to me are anathema, but farmyard smells not so much (I grew up in the country).

As your senses dull with age it gets easier to block things out IME.

Re: Breathing Through the Nose May Offer Unique Brain Benefits

#60

Post by posterboy »

agumonkey wrote: post #8

Two thoughts: - breathing is life. It's no surprise it taps in tons of important places. Also oxygen is sensed everywhere, the theory is better breathing => better oxygen % => happier system => happier brain. I believe there's a parallel effect that our mind maps intakes and well being, that's why smoking is addictive, breathing + nicotin effect could piggyback on the all the breathing related brain areas. - I though…

I agree with the opinion on smoking, to a degree, but initially it's quite the opposite, because, well, it's just disgusting. Only after becoming desensibilized can a negative feedback loop kick in, where the sod cools the vessels (directly or indirectly, I wouldn't know), and the smoke warms it. I still wonder what positive effect a little smoking can have, like maybe supercharging the waste removal. After all, humanity was raised by the fire.

Edit: If a lack of sensitivity implies dead nerve cells, that's going a little too far, though.

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