When air enters your nose, the many small hairs in your nose immediately filter out larger particles. Air then proceeds to the nasal conchae where it is humidified and warmed, and at the same time, smaller particles are filtered out by the surrounding mucous membranes. Indeed if we use our nose properly, we will be able to appreciate this extremely sensitive organ.
The magic of sounds is that they consist of waves that can be more or less harmonized. If sounds oscillate uniformly, they create vibrations and develop a “resonance” in various parts of the body. Sound is waves of energy and this energy is like a stimulating and vitalizing micro-massage to your cells. When all the cells in your body vibrate in their optimal frequency, they work most effectively.
In 2002 a research group from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, found that NO is formed and released in human sinuses. Further they showed that the NO concentration in the nasal cavity increases as much as 15 times if you make a "buzzing sound", because it creates vibrations, which mixes air from the sinuses with nasal air.
There is no challenging exercise that is more powerful when it comes to facing yourself than holding your breath. You are floating in water, it is quiet, you are alone with your thoughts and your body reacts to the increasing carbon dioxide and decreasing oxygen concentrations. Your diaphragm starts contracting, the diving response sets in…
When you breathe and air enters your lungs, oxygen is delivered via your blood, to every cell in your body. Here, oxygen is consumed in the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), which is a cascade of chemical reactions involving the transformation of the food you have eaten to energy-rich molecules called ATP (the cell’s battery) by means of water and enzymes. A byproduct of this cycle is carbon dioxide which blood transports to the lungs where it is released to the atmosphere upon exhalation.
A genuine arsenal of hormone-containing inhalers and pills that can alleviate an asthma attack already exists. Unfortunately, these medica tions do not cure asthma. Although they are good at relieving the symp toms, they can lead to secondary adverse effects that sometimes force patients to take more and more medication because of the body’s reaction.
Let us take a closer look at the movement of air to your lungs and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. If you close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths, try to feel the air flow in your body. Where does air enter, where does it flow to, and how does it feel? There are two en try points for air: Air can enter through the nose or through the mouth.
A mantra is composed of sounds, words or short phrases, which have a strong influence on body and mind. There are many ways in which a mantra can be used. It can be sung, whispered, written or even just repeated mentally. By consciously repeating a mantra many times (called japa) a small seed or bija is planted in the mind. This seed contains a high concentration of exactly those vibrations that create special moods and thoughts.
Pranayama is a traditional aspect of yoga and is composed of two Sanskrit words: The first,prana, meaning life force, and the second, ayama, meaning control. If we understand breath in terms of life force, there is a connection between controlling your breath and controlling your life force.
The breath is an integrated part of any type of sport and it adjusts according to the needs of the body. Naturally, the degree to which the breath is used varies and the span between a marathon runner and an archer is enormous. Scientifically and intuitively the breath is undoubtedly significant in reaching sports goals. Efficient breathing oxygenates all muscles of the body to make them work optimally and at the same time removes the carbon dioxide produced by every cell, in vast amounts, during ac tivity. It is surprising how little attention the breath and all its facets are given in sports training, teaching and education. This may be because our Western culture has no tradition of considering something as dif fuse and “airy” as the breath.
Freediving is also called apnea, a Greek word meaning “without air”. You probably know the concept of sleep apnea which is an illness where the body simply “forgets” to breathe during sleep.
Over the course of history freediving has been used for various purposes.
The part of the nervous system that cannot be controlled by our will is called the autonomous nervous system. It consists of the sympathetic and theparasympathetic pathways that regulate the vital functions of the body. These can be influenced by inner and outer factors of both physical and mental origins. Both parts of the nervous system are con tinuously at work and do it in an antagonistic way to maintain a healthy balance