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Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

scientificamerican.com

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Re: Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

#51

Post by MagnaEterna »

brightball wrote: post #19

I had a nasal problem that I didn’t know about until I tried breath right strips. Wearing those things was life changing for me. I felt like a different person and honestly can’t believe I spent my entire life not realizing I had a problem. Eventually got it fixed permanently, but yea...breathing is huge. EDIT: The problem I had was called Nasal Valve Collapse. It’s something that happens in much older people, but es…

I wore the strips everywhere, all day, for two years. People looked at me as if I got out of my house wearing pajamas :D

Re: Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

#52

Post by a2dictator »

FTA

> Recommendations for how to modulate breathing and influence health and mind appeared centuries ago as well. Pranayama (“breath retention”) yoga was the first doctrine to build a theory around respiratory control, holding that controlled breathing was a way to increase longevity.

This has been practiced in India for many centuries & is a part of Yoga itself. It has been described in detail in the Bhagavad Gita as the dialogue between Lord Sri Krishna & Arjuna. Not to belittle, but it seems western scientists have only now done some tests to determine the validity of something known by every granny in India.

Meanwhile, there are many Christian institutes that have appropriated this as "Jesus' Yoga" / "Christian Yoga" etc.

Re: Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

#53

Post by ubercow13 »

samatman wrote: post #15
acangiano wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It makes perfect sense, but it's worth noting that there are plenty of safer exercises for beginners that will improve core and posterior chain. Think glutes bridges, dead bugs, planks, Pallof press, etc. Some people jump straight to the big compounding lifts (because they are amazing for building strength) with no guidance from a trainer or much care for their form. You deadlift or squat heavy wrong and it's extreme…

This is FUD, basically. Yes, don’t start squatting and deadlifting without learning how to do it properly. Yes, start light, you only have one spine and two knees. No, it is not “extremely easy” to injure yourself if you show a modicum of good sense and avoid max lifting. I agree with GP that squats and deadlifts will improve posture in a relatively short period of time. They are among the best exercises, period, for…

Disagree from my experience, it is easy to injure yourself and recovery from back injuries can be slow. I am very careful and analytical about learning new activities, read the whole of starting strength carefully and practised filming myself while learning, and still hurt my back after 4 years of squatting, probably due to a momentary lapse in form. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, but there are probably less risky exercises to do.

Re: Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

#54

Post by graeme »

samatman wrote: post #44
graeme wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hurt my back on a not so heavy deadlift. Had done them for two years prior, learned how to do them, etc But all it took was one day where I was probably too tired/stressed. It wasn't a serious injury, but that spot in my back is still tight and I haven't really been able to unlock it despite physio, massage etc May have had pre-existing tension which made it more likely. Dunno. But injury can happen more easily tha…

I fully agree with this, and wish to share an anecdote of my own: I severely injured my back, bulged disk, cause? Poor computer posture and near-total lack of exercise. I'm fairly convinced that lifting has left me substantially less injury prone: I started when I noticed that I was experiencing knee pain when bending down to pick something up off the floor. That's been gone since about two months after starting trai…

Thanks. I should also add, for context, that I plan to do lifting again, and would encourage others to do so. One of my favourite ever activities.

I'd just encourage the neophyte to be a bit cautious. Five minutes can lead to an injury that takes you out for a month, and leaves some persistent tension that will take work to get out.

And in particular I'd caution against going heavy if you're tired or stressed. I think my system in general became injury prone and tense during a period of stress. I've worked that out and feel better able to excercise compound lifts.

Re: Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

#56

Post by sn41 »

viivaux wrote: post #5

I feel like the Wim Hof method ought to be mentioned here. It is imo the fastest and most direct route to understanding what this article is talking about.

I tried Pranayama for some time, but found it to be very complicated to follow for 20 minutes at a stretch. In contrast, the Wim Hof method was very easy to follow. The feeling of increased energy, and the absence of nasal congestion for a certain period afterwards, was instant. Wim Hof also claims long-term benefits.

The only drawback I felt was a kind of nervous energy which made it slightly harder to focus on a long piece of text etc., similar to having too much coffee in one go.

Re: Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

#57

Post by tremendo »

samatman wrote: post #44
graeme wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hurt my back on a not so heavy deadlift. Had done them for two years prior, learned how to do them, etc But all it took was one day where I was probably too tired/stressed. It wasn't a serious injury, but that spot in my back is still tight and I haven't really been able to unlock it despite physio, massage etc May have had pre-existing tension which made it more likely. Dunno. But injury can happen more easily tha…

I fully agree with this, and wish to share an anecdote of my own: I severely injured my back, bulged disk, cause? Poor computer posture and near-total lack of exercise. I'm fairly convinced that lifting has left me substantially less injury prone: I started when I noticed that I was experiencing knee pain when bending down to pick something up off the floor. That's been gone since about two months after starting trai…

> …and respect the weight.

All it takes is a lapse in concentration. In my case, my grip started to fail mid set. So I switched (from overhand to mixed), next rep that wasn't enough and, well, surely I can save this rep if I just engage my bi… Oh, snap! Surgery and a year later, mostly recovered, but still.

Re: Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

#58

Post by john61 »

One of the great things of long distance running is the very, very deep breathe I get into after approx. half an hour. This feels like a great oxygen shower. This energizes my whole body and brain for the rest of the day.

Re: Proper Breathing Brings Better Health

#60

Post by askvictor »

pimlottc wrote: post #22
brightball wrote: post #19

I had a nasal problem that I didn’t know about until I tried breath right strips. Wearing those things was life changing for me. I felt like a different person and honestly can’t believe I spent my entire life not realizing I had a problem. Eventually got it fixed permanently, but yea...breathing is huge. EDIT: The problem I had was called Nasal Valve Collapse. It’s something that happens in much older people, but es…

Could you explain how you got your breathing fixed permanently?

Probably surgery
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