Breathing. We have to do it, very often, and yet many of us are not very good at it. Breathing correctly, though, could mean huge benefits not just for your mind but body as well.
There are multiple breathing apps available, trying to help you learn “breathwork,” much of it aimed at meditation. The apps also claim to aid in endurance as well. And it doesn’t seem like a bunch of faddish hooey, according to this NY Times article:
It can also make you a better athlete. Mr. MacKenzie, who is the co-author of three sports-related books including Unbreakable Runner, teaches his clients how to use nasal breathing to optimize their athletic performance and be more metabolically efficient. Breathing through the nose activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps people remain calm and alert, improves their peripheral vision and encourages them to maintain better posture and mechanics, which results in fewer injuries,
Essentially the whole article is filled with this type of advice, listing various places where you can learn to breathe better and how many amazing things will happen as your breathing improves. We want to be skeptical, but there does seem like quite a bit of proof that this is something we should focus on.
As to whether breathing through the nose or mouth is better, once again from the article:
Breathing through the nose activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps people remain calm and alert, improves their peripheral vision and encourages them to maintain better posture and mechanics, which results in fewer injuries…
Expect a Cardio High experiment in the near future, but have you ever worked on your breathing techniques during intervals? Did you notice any benefits? Let us know!
