Breathing affects functional movement Exercise-induced asthma, lack of sleep, anxiety as well as dysfunctional breathing patterns deprive athletes of their best performance possible. Dysfunctional breathing is as simple as unconscious over breathing manifesting itself in the following ways: Breathing through the mouth by day and night Upper chest movement Irregular breathing Breathlessness Sports Injury Sleepi
Breathe through the nose for better oxygenation How we breathe influences Oxygen (O²) transfer from our blood to our muscles and organs. Haemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells (erythrocytes) that carries O² from the lungs to the body’s tissues and organs and returns Carbon Dioxide (CO²) from the tissues back to the lungs The air we breathe contains 21% O². The bloods O² saturation (SpO²) is a p
Breath-work is becoming the common denominator in dealing with stress in sport as well as the workplace Not only does stress, fear and anxiety cause fast, upper chest and irregular breathing that feeds into Breathing Pattern Disorders (BPD), but in turn, BPD feeds back into Anxiety, Stress and Panic Disorder (1). In simple terms BPD can be seen simply as over-breathing sending agitation signals to the brain. These si
Athletes often struggle with breathlessness. This is not only common for an individual exercising for the first time but also for the experienced athlete During increased rate and depth of breathing (hyperpnea), the relative cost of breathing increases exponentially when moving from moderate exercise to heavy and maximal exercise levels. (1) While at moderate exercise, the cost of the respiratory system accounts for
“many do not enjoy themselves due to breathlessness” Avid recreational golfers, weekend hackers and serious players alike, probably take to the golf course once a week. This is also often the only exercise that they get. It should be a time of enjoyment and relaxation after a busy and stressful work or travel schedule. Unfortunately, many do not enjoy themselves due to breathlessness, fatigue and subseque
Hemoglobin carries Oxygen Breathing correctly is important to the oxygen (O2) transfer from our blood to our muscles and organs. Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body’s tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs The air we breathe contains 21% oxygen. The O2 saturation (SpO2) in the blood of a healthy individual, which is
Your nose performs at least 30 functions, all of which are important supplements to the roles played by the lungs, heart, and other organs.(4) Research has shown that over 50% of children are mouth breathers (1)(2) The reason for breathing is to rid the body of excess Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that is released into the lungs from the bloodstream rather than to increase Oxygen(O2) in the bloodstream. Normal blood oxygen sa
Do you know how you breathe? We take one of the most important aspects of life so for granted that we pay no attention to it unless it is suddenly taken away from us. Exercise-induced asthma, lack of sleep, anxiety and incorrect breathing deprive every active person, athlete, recreational or elite, of an enjoyable and the best performance possible. Dysfunctional breathing is as simple as unconscious over breathing. S
Everyone knows CrossFit is about constantly varied, functional movements performed at high intensity. It’s no wonder then that the Oxygen Advantage programme had such a pointed place at CrossFit Hout Bay. On the 8th Feb, 2017, Jenny O’Hanlon came to watch and observe a typical CrossFit class and environment. The 6pm class were doing box jumps, wall balls and sumo deadlift high pulls in rounds at hig