improve your skiing (or any sport) Instantly!

[Ron]

trying my best to unload as soon as possible......

[Gary]

Ah yes my young New Jersey friend....

Somethings are fly paper....no matter how hard we try to shake it loose....it just sticks forever and ever and ever...

Learning to accept who we are and make fun of others like us...is the only solace we have!!

G

[Ron]

Grasshopper, So if I am pathetic, I should accept being pathetic? If I am a poor skier, I should accept being a poor skier? Is it not better to accept what is wrong or what is needed to be changed and make the changes?  Not changing and rationalizing it away is to accept defeat. Accept the weakness, change it and then you can make fun of others! (just kidding about that part)

[midwif]

Lynn and Ron,
While out road biking this weekend, I thought of this thread. I've a mild deviated septum and sinus conditions so I may not be the best candidate for breathing through the nose.
But I'm here to tell ya, that my demands for breath volume during extended periods near the upper limits of heart rate require me to breath via my mouth. Cycling coaches teach the "belly breathing" technique where the sternum is expanded to inhale. It seemed to me that the body/head/neck position when road biking seems to contract the nasal passages.
Lynn, do you use nose breathing on extended rides?
Mike

Hi Mike
I don't think about how I breathe on bike rides. Unless I'm gasping up a hill.
I commiserate about your nasal issues. It seems that the vast majority of humans have deviated septums ( according to my ENT). I am no exception.
And with a life time of allergies, my sinuses are pretty swollen too. To the extent that when I was in yoga class, breathing in and out of my left nostril was an impossibility.

Ron/Mike, have you guys seen an allergist?
Seriously!

I finally admitted I had a problem. Went to allergy rehab. Went from weekly meetings initially and am now down to monthly meetings.

It took a while to achieve the monthly meeting status, but I am happy to be on the allergy wagon. (aka maintenance)

REally seriously, most sinus issues are allergy related. Testing to determine your allergies is relatively easy. Taking allergy desensitization injections is a bit of a committent.
It has made a real difference for me and my sinuses are in much better shape.

MUCH LESS nasal dripping while biking!!! And can breathe thru both nostrils now.

Lynn

[Ron]

been there.... ALLEGRA-d wrorks best but its limited. I have also tried the nasal sprays are supposedly help to shrink membranes, (NOT AFRIN TYPES) i am considering havign the sinus passages enlarged with the ballon thing (forget the name).  I have been told I aslo have a dev sep. I think its a standard thing.  You can't let the stuff get in your way though, it wil become an excuse if you let it.

[midwif]

Hey Ron
The nasal sprays you mention are probably the corticosteroid ones. With long term use they can eat thru septums. Though I used it regularly for 3-4 years without problems.

Back to breathing. 
And looking forward to snow!!

L.

[Ron]

no they are the new generation ones, I forget the names, non-steriodal.

[LivingProof]

Lynn,
Ah-ha, another roadie who just gets breathing done while climbing. I think the "belly breathing" cycling technique results in deep, full slow breathing. You simply concentrate on expanding your belly and that forces smooth inhaling. Does not work via my nose. I do think the road bike cycling position which has an unnatural head position inhibits nose breathing, at least for me.

First thing each a.m., I take Alegra-D. If there is one drug that changed my life so much for the better, it is this class of medication. Having said that, today, for some reason, is a major runny nose. I do think that sinus conditions are improved during extended exercise periods such as road biking.

JB,
I have "breath right strips" and use them in mountain areas at nights, in part, to keep my snoring down. It's amazing how much they improve breathing as soon as they go on. The effect diminishes quickly.

[Gary]

With all the talk of nasal and septums and belly breathing....I'm getting plenty of belly laughs. 

One thing I know for sure.....if your nose is sunburn from a day of back bowl skiing at Vail...DO NOT...I repeat...DO NOT.... put breathe strips on your nose at bed time...well unless you want the skin under the breathe strip to magically disapper in the morning....ASK GREG!

AND...ALL breathing is good....so breath a lot when doing any sport...belly, nose, mouth...or any other orfice you are so inclined to breath from...ya need oxygen to function.....so smile and breath...cause if you're frowning.....you're not getting enough air! 


G

[Ron]

yes, that was nasty for sure!!!  there's no emodicon for that one!

Breathing, yes breath but effective breathing is based on cadence and/or muscle contraction and extension (or relaxing) rapid or random breathing is not effective.