20 sats \ 1 reply \ @OriginalSize 26 Feb \ on: Optimal Breathing health
Can you give a tldr on Wim Hof and the differences between the breathing methods? I'm wondering if any of them are based on the natural involuntary breathing cycle.
Sure I'll do my best!
TLDR:
-Wim Hof: a form of controlled hyperventilation, used as a method of eustress to stimulate and strengthen the autonomic nervous system.
- The oxygen advantage: emphasizes the importance CO2 within the process of functional breathing and respiration. Focuses on teaching people to build a tolerance towards CO2 in order to maximize breathing potential and allowing incoming oxygen to get deep into the body.
- Huberman: he mentions a few breathing techniques that I also have used. One of the them is box breathing which is practiced by breathing in for a certain number of seconds, holding for that same number, exhaling for the same number, and holding again this time on the exhale for the same number, essentially forming a "box" when breathing. He also explains the power of a extended and deliberate exhale from the mouth as a useful tool to immediately lower your heart rate, which I have tried and monitored, and it does indeed work to lower HR immediately. He mentions a few other like the physiological sigh, but these are the ones that left an impression on me.
- Cadence Breathing: very basic breathing practice where you breath in and out with a focus on a specific cadence. For example, breathing in for 5 seconds, and then exhaling for 5 seconds repeatedly. This can be used to bring your body, mind, and autonomic nervous system back into a state of homeostasis.
- Nasal breathing: besides Wim Hof, most people who bring up proper, functional, optimal breathing recommend that you spend most of your daily life breathing through your nose, as it has filter, warms the air you breathe, and can prevent one from over breathing, on top of other benefits.
All in all, all of these conscious breathing practices aim to make your involuntary breathing more efficient. Mindful breathing has become more widely known to be a powerful tool that allows us to have more control over our autonomic system, both the sympathetic and parasympathetic. And the beauty is anyone can start practicing and possibly bettering their life today without spending money on any tools.
Hope this more or less answered your question!
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