I feel sure there are physiological benefits from breathing techniques (and I naturally adopted the nose/mouth pattern while hiking the Rockies).  In fact, I started to develop these techniques 50 years ago while playing varsity sports, specifically basketball.  I was gauged as the most "fit" person on the team and anytime the team went to the "box and 1" zone, I got to be the chaser. 

The earliest acknowledgement of the fact that I was doing something different came from by team mates when they hung the nick name "smiley" on me.  I achieved this moniker because soon after wind sprint drills began, I started smiling.  (I can only guess that opposing team members thought of this behavior, but I'm guessing they were depressed by it.)  In any case, what I found by experience is that when I smiled (which also takes less energy than frowning) that facial configuration tended to significantly open the airway.

During games, I refused to take a seat during time-outs because I wanted to be able to fully extend my diaphragm and thus recover more quickly.  (I also suspect that lactic acid buildup in your leg muscles is diminished more quickly with the better circulation standing is likely to afford.)

However, all of this being said, I also think there is a probable psychological component to some of this.  While executing a specific breathing pattern, it is likely that at least some of your mental attention is drawn from your level of fatigue and focused on your breathing.  One personal benefit of knowing this is that when hill climbing, I'll take a quick look up to confirm the trail direction.  However, there after I never look more than 20 feet ahead.  Its amazing that I'll reach the top much less fatigued than if I watch my progress up the hill the entire journey.  To some degree, portaging a canoe up hill produces this result since you'd likely need to at least tilt the canoe upward to see the top of the hill.

Anyone else have a similar experience?

dd

"I also think there is a probable psychological component to some of this."



I'm sure that there is a psycho component to most of this thread, and most of the other threads on here as well, but I don't let that worry me too much since I've never posted a picture of me on here! and youse guys dont' know where I live  !!!!!!!!!!


and just to keep on topic, I went on a climbing trip Saturday  (4/2)- packed light since I made the other 3 carry the ropes and my pack only weighed 40lbs or so.  Moderate approach, from 8100' to 8800' el. in a bit over a quarter mile on the map, more like 1/3 mile on the ground.  I tried that "in thru the nose bit" - didn't work, even at the modest uphill pace I was going at - just can't get enough Os.  I've tried the in thru the nose out the mouth bit X/C skiing as well (at a hard pace) in very cold weather - didn't work for that either.    I wonder if its more a method for pacing yourself slowly ? i.e. if you can do this, then you are moving at a pace that isn't consuming more oxygen than you are taking in, and to go faster is too much work?

Mad_Mat wrote on Apr 4^th, 2011 at 5:59pm:


You can rest easy Mat.......We only go after those that owe us money or maybe someone that has dishonored one of the ladies in the family. But if we wanted to find you it would only take about 3 hours. We usually send Wally on such errands (*note "Uncle Wally's" Avatar if you have any doubts)

Quote:


And HE said that Evil Black rifle was just for Prairie Dogs

If you read the links I posted about nose breathing during strenuous exercise and running, they explain why a mouth breather will feel a decline in performance at first when learning to breath again from the nose predominately.
Under heavy enough exertion or when your at or past your aerobic thresh-hold, you'll start mouth breathing whether you want to or not.
We start out as babies breathing thru our noses, somewhere along the way, most lose some or all of the ability. Re-learning something that comes so natural as a child after years of doing it differently is no easy task.
Your normal pace as a mouth breather may drop off, but you should see a increase in stamina/distance albeit at a lower speed. Distance and effort builds stamina. The longer you work at a slower sustained work load the harder you can go in short bursts and the faster you recover afterward.
Reason why sprinters/bikers do interval training. All out, recover at a moderate pace, then go again. You keep bumping up/shortening the recovery phase, the longer you can go all out.

I use my bushy mustache to filter the bugs.