Breathing and exercise

[Guest guest]

Hi nzyki,

I understand about weather limiting getting out to exercise, then there’s cost to join gyms (and poss source of infx if people have colds/flu etc).

I have strap-on 2kg weights which I can strap to ankles and walk around in or do exercises (unless weather too hot, at least in cold weather would help you keep warmer!), or use as handweights for upper arm ex’s.

Is there somewhere close you can do Tai Chi or something similar – not toooo aerobic – it helps tone up and feel more inclined to do other ex’s.

Breathing - pursed lip is excellent if you’re doing treadmill, fast walking etc. you’re most likely familiar with these, but some I only learnt last year...

Diaphragm (bottle) breathing: (put hands on belly to feel air fill lower lungs) fill - push diaphragm down and outwards (belly pushes out) air fills bottom-to-top; empty - pull belly in with diaphragm, squeezing from upper lungs last. Picture how a bottle fills from the bottom up, and empties from the bottom. Takes practice at first, but is very good.

Bubble-pep (positive exchange pressure or something like) - 1L bottle, 3/4 fill bottle; blow through ~5ml tube into the water (breathing against pressure); do in cycles each breath to a count of 4-8 or so.

Huff-breaths: do 4 normal breaths, then 4 huh-huh-huh-huh (no voice, just breath). Do 4 cycles then put hands on ribs and push-push-push while huh-huh-huff out...‘cough’ with huff (no voice sound, not normal cough) to shift gunk...

All work best doing a few here and there regularly/daily if poss......and isn’t so tiring either. If you have a pulmonary group in your town they may be able to help w gear and diagrams...

J happy breathing

joy

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" Sentient beings, all our very own mothers, are as limitless as space”