Technique, as defined in the Oxford dictionary is: “A way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure.”
Breathing technique is then a way of carrying out breathing.
Breathing is the most important thing we humans individually do. It is the foundation of life. If we do not breathe, then we cannot use oxygen for our metabolic processes to live. Whatever the situation we find ourselves in, we should be able to modulate how (much) we breathe at a moment’s notice. Depending on what kind of tasks we are carrying out, we need to match our use of our breath to them. Breathing technique is the beginning, middle, & end of being able to do that. How we breathe was innately programmed into our physiology from birth. Breathing technique as a baby was automatic. We just about did anything we wanted to, & our bodies, including our heart & lungs, reacted & executed a symphony of combined & coordinated actions of our individual body parts to help us breathe the way we were supposed to. Throughout time, we have lost the ability to execute efficient breathing technique because of societal pressures to adopt poor postures in extended sedentary learning & working conditions. Intertwined, & having compounding effects on each other, the lack of quality sleep, poor nutrition, & our constant connection with social media results in a heightened sympathetic (flight or freeze) mental & physical state which then contributes to poor breathing mechanics, physiology, & technique. Our goal is to unlearn improper breathing technique & relearn proper technique in order to truly function as rested, healthy, & rational human beings. Just like teaching & learning how to do correctly do a push-up or squat, we can teach & learn how to breathe correctly & in proper amounts according to the laws of nature & our human anatomy. There is a standard we follow in order to teach & learn movement/breathing technique. Any deviation from that standard prevents us from reaching our goals of living fit & healthy without pain.
Why do we care so much about it?
We care so much about breathing technique because it is the question & answer to so many of the issues our society is dealing with, including anxiety & depression. For example, why do so many individuals suffer from asthma or sleep apnea? The first question to ask would be, “How are they breathing,” or “What’s their breathing technique like?” The answer to that would be “Let’s look at their breathing technique.” It is most of the time, if not all of the time, how they are moving & breathing that contributes to the cause of these chronic conditions. Because of how as a society we have adapted to sitting in chairs & seats, sleeping with poor postures, eating an exorbitant amount of carbohydrates resulting in ruined metabolic flexibility, & continual connection to the Internet (especially via social media) causing untold amounts of mental stress, we have degraded our bodies’ abilities to breathe properly. We have changed & shifted our perceptions of how bodies are supposed to function. We have also changed & shifted our perceptions of how we are supposed to breathe. More time spent in poor body positions have relegated us to improperly using our whole bodies to breathe effectively, efficiently, & safely. Amidst all the stress we experience & the struggle we endure using our broken-down internal machinery, we have lost the ability to sense how to execute proper technique. With this, we create the conditions that cause & exacerbate the chronic negative mental & physical conditions we experience as a society.
What kind of activities does it apply to?
We cannot last more than a few minutes without breathing. It does not matter whether we are sleeping, sitting, walking, running, lifting, swimming, cycling, or even doing bodyweight exercises. Any & all activities require us to breathe with proper breathing technique so we can do them to our highest & best abilities, avoid pain & injury, & stave off anxiety, depression, asthma, sleep apnea, & many other conditions.
We can teach & learn breathing through a systematic process. This process takes time & requires a great deal of patience & focus. Both the teacher & student need to have both patience & focus, just like for any other skill we learn. We are here to teach & learn and we are here to help others live fit, healthy, & without pain. If you have been dealing with anxiety, depression, asthma, sleep apnea, side-aches, chronic mental stress, & even pain & injury, or are looking to break through seemingly unbreakable plateaus in training & competition, reach out! We can help you improve so that you can indeed live fit, healthy, & pain-free.
Breathing 101 Program: Improve your Breathing Technique to help burn fat, reduce anxiety, & even beat sleep apnea!
1. Improving your breathing mechanics
2. Knowing when & how to use your nose & mouth to breathe
3. In-Person Coached sessions 3x per week for 4 weeks
If you have questions or you’d like to learn more about Idahome Movement Academy, feel free to email or call Albert at 208.639.2589.