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presence
11 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 07 2008 : 10:12:09 AM
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Do anybody know about this (or similar) breathing technique?
I once was taught a breathing exercise were you breath in - take 15 steps while walking - breath out and in again. This is done for 10 minuttes. Next day take 16 steps,... and increase as much as possible.
I did this for some month and was amazed about the immediate increase of vitality, power, ooncentration etc.
The explanation was that holding the breath repetetively like this, increase the relative blood flow to the brain, as oxygen to the brain has highest priority in the body. Then as returning to normal breathing, the brain for a while will get MORE oxygen than usual, which explains the energy boost that is experienced (I was told this is called "the divers respons"). I found that the exercise increased my condition in many ways. In a month or so I was able to walk 30 steps, - a 100% increase! It might be because the body really gets strained by doing this, and therefore fights to increase its ability to survive with less oxygen suply (one is meant to put a lot of strain on oneself to make progres and the body can be almost shaking the last minuttes of the exercise) The teacher told that something similar is taught to astronauts, so they can survive if oxygen gets low.
Even though I got so good results from doing it and I also really enjoyed it (I almost felt adicted to these walks, as I could increase my wellbeing and presense in only 10 minuttes - faster than by any other physical exercise), I stopped practicing it, as I had never heard about this kind of breathing exercise before, besides from this teacher. I was afraid it could cause damage to the heart. I asked an authority and he said that there was nothing to fear, as one would faint before anything bad happened. But then again I was aware that my pulse would get very fast, and at one time I felt dizzy and got afraid to put presure on my self. So I stopped.
Today I tried it, and I can still feel the positive effect from it 2 hours later. You know the wellbeing like after running.
Do you think that its riskfree to do this exercise?.....
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Jo-self
USA
225 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2008 : 2:32:40 PM
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I don't think its risk-free.
The breathing process is mostly automatic and should be left that way. Sure there are paths where it is manipulated as in SBP and so forth, but these are within a prescribed period of time set for the exercise. Not within everyday activity (unless your a monk and follow such practices).
Further, you are playing with a process that has been perfected in thousands of years of human anatomical evolution. What do we puny little humans in our sub-century lifespan know? As to "ancient" wisdom, it is contradictory too. Try to find the ancient answer to "where is the seat of the soul, brain or heart?" without coping out with 'all is one' non-answers.
From personal experience I can say that Yogic breathing exercises if not done correctly can put you in a hospital, and doctor's won't even know what is going on. So, take it slow and easy. If you don't make it now, you'll be back for another try. LOL!
- jo-self
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presence
11 Posts |
Posted - Dec 08 2008 : 10:41:18 AM
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I see what you mean, but people have been diving for thousands of years, too. Maybe I should ask experts in diving this question, as its very similar to what someone diving for oysters do: take a deep breath, being psycical active(diving /walking) for a periode while holding the breath, come to the surface shortly to take another breath and go down.
They must know about how it effects the body and the dangers of doing it. |
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david_obsidian
USA
2602 Posts |
Posted - Dec 08 2008 : 11:09:41 AM
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Presence,
I think it's probably very good for you.
I've done it in the past. I've also done it with Sun Salutation rather than with walking.
I think it's another way of 'stressing' the cardio-pulmonary system, which is what happens in aerobic exercise. Not all 'stress' is bad, in fact, looking at excercise, some of it is good. When you 'stress' the cardio-pulmonary system in the right way, it gets fit. That is what 'aerobic exercise' is about.
I did this for some month and was amazed about the immediate increase of vitality, power, ooncentration etc.
Sounds like the effect of exercise, doesn't it? 
But then again I was aware that my pulse would get very fast, and at one time I felt dizzy and got afraid to put presure on my self. So I stopped.
Why would the increased heartrate be a problem? That is what is desired of aerobic exercise in order to create cardio-pulmonary fitness.....
Interesting scientific questions arise. Is this a special kind of cardio-pulmonary exercise in which the muscles are not exhausted?
Do you think that its riskfree to do this exercise?.....
Generally I think the physical risks of any of these breath-holding practices are exactly the same as the risks of heavy exercise -- good for people who don't have heart problems, risky for people with heart problems. Generally I think it's no problem. But for someone with 'kundalini' problems, there are probably additional mental risks. So my guess is, no Kundalini problems and no heart problems, then no problem, go for it! But do take it slow and easy, building it up over time. No manic overdoing!
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Edited by - david_obsidian on Dec 08 2008 12:41:55 PM |
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themysticseeker
USA
342 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2008 : 1:35:34 PM
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Hi Presence, breath retention is good for you. It allows you to practice elongated breathing. The longer you can elongate your inhalations, pauses between breaths and exhalations, the better your meditation practice will be. The long breath is calming. To condition your body for the long breath you practice breath retention. Do as much as you feel comfortable.
Respect and blessings,
TMS |
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presence
11 Posts |
Posted - Dec 11 2008 : 6:11:15 PM
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Sounds good! :-)
David, how did you count when doing the sun salutation with 'apnea' (breath retention). I would like to try that. (I guess you ment anaerobic exercise...).
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david_obsidian
USA
2602 Posts |
Posted - Dec 11 2008 : 8:19:25 PM
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Hi Presence,
my counting in Sun Salutations was based on the 'movements'. You know how Sun Salutations can be divided into cycles, each with a set of movements? It is usually taught with a breath between each movement. Well, I would hold breath for so many movements.
Actually, I would simply breath at specific parts of the cycle.
The Sun Salutation version I do has 10 movement in a cycle. But there are variations on Sun Salutation.
Eventually I was holding my breath for all 10 movements -- one cycle. That is, breathing only at the beginning of each cycle.
(I guess you ment anaerobic exercise...).
Actually, no, the problem here is that the terminology is confusing. You only go into anaerobic respiration during a sprint -- really fast, intense exercise. It isn't related to holding your breath at all. It's got to do with what the cells in your body are doing. While holding your breath like this, you're still in 'aerobic respiration'.
When you are still you are in 'aerobic respiration' and low cardio-pulmonary load, and its not called exercise at all.
At higher levels of 'exercise' you're still in 'aerobic respiration' but are getting sufficient cardio-pulmonary load that they call it 'aerobic exercise'.
At extreme levels of 'exercise', such as a sprint, you'll be in 'anaerobic respiration' and that is called 'anaerobic exercise'.
The terminology is unfortunate, but that's what it is.
I think that by holding your breath, you may be able to go into sufficient cardio-pulmonary load that you will be getting 'aerobic exercise'.
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Edited by - david_obsidian on Dec 11 2008 8:20:56 PM |
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presence
11 Posts |
Posted - Dec 14 2008 : 12:03:10 AM
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Thanks, David
Since most people here think it is riskfre, and also the people I have asked at a forum for divers, that could give me very qualified, scientific explanations for what happened in the body, I have started a daily practice of "walking & breathing", and after few days I feel in better condition already. Divers actually do an exercise similar to mine, called "Dry Apnea", "Wet apnea" is diving :-) But their way of doing it is more 'hardcore' than mine, and they often do it until they are close to 'sambo' (some kind of cramps where the body moves as if you were dancing)OR actually faint. So therefore there is the danger of falling and hurt yourself, but thats only if done to the extreme.
So - if you would like to try a very powerfull (and healthy) breathing technique I warmly suggest this exercise. Just start up slow, find out how many paces you think you probably can take for 10 min. - start with 10 and increase after a while. I asure you that you will feel energized and relaxed afterwards. VERY good as a prepare for some challenging situation: work/meating etc.
Please tell me if you try it ;-)
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riptiz
United Kingdom
741 Posts |
Posted - Dec 14 2008 : 03:59:13 AM
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Hi,
I was sure that I read some time ago on the forum that breath retention was dangerous if you had high blood pressure.Maybe somebody could clarify this.
L&L
Dave |
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david_obsidian
USA
2602 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2008 : 4:51:46 PM
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I was sure that I read some time ago on the forum that breath retention was dangerous if you had high blood pressure.Maybe somebody could clarify this.
Dave,
holding the breath is dangerous if you have high blood pressure while lifting heavy weights. As far as I know that's particular to heavy weight-lifting as an exercise.
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riptiz
United Kingdom
741 Posts |
Posted - Dec 15 2008 : 5:20:14 PM
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Thanks david, I thought there was a post regarding this in pranayama also.
L&L
Dave |
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yogani
USA
5242 Posts |
Posted - Dec 16 2008 : 2:33:11 PM
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Hi All:
There are two sides to this.
For those in good health, holding breath in athletics is not usually harmful, though there are reasonable limits in everything.
For those using daily yoga practices, holding breath can lead to accelerated kundalini awakening, especially if breath retention (kumbhaka) is incorporated into a full routine of practices including deep meditation, several kinds of pranayama, asanas, mudras, bandhas, tantric practices, etc. An energy awakening can happen with delayed effect and much discomfort for a long time if breath retention is taken to excess in yoga practices. A dramatic instance of this is covered in the Secrets of Wilder novel, and it is covered in the AYP lessons also. There are first hand reports on it here in the forums as well. Many email correspondences here over the years have been about kundalini difficulties caused by excessive breath retention.
In yoga, a little bit of breath retention goes a long way. Self-pacing in practice is very important, which may include tempering our bhakti (spiritual desire) a bit at times. We each must find our balance, and take into account the time delayed effects associated with breath retention in yoga.
For some lessons on how breath retention is used in conjunction with AYP practices, see "kumbhaka" in the website topic index.
Where do athletics end and yoga begin? That is for each practitioner to determine by direct experience. 
All the best!
The guru is in you.
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Holding the breath while walking
