Many customers find that they get better results when they make their breathing more powerful and more effective. The following list of breathing tips may help in "troubleshooting" possible problems.

When you breathe in and out deeply, do NOT move your shoulders up and down. Instead you should feel the "action" happening mostly just below your rib cage.

If you place your hands on your sides, just below your ribs, you should feel your girth EXPAND as you inhale, and then tighten and decrease as you exhale.

Make sure you RELAX your abdominal muscles (very important!) when you inhale. You MUST relax your abdomen in order to breathe in deeply and fully. Allow your tummy to expand freely as the air fills your lungs, but don't "push" it out forcefully.

It may be easier to relax your abdominal muscles if you will ALSO relax any other muscles that you are tightening (arms, legs, etc) as you do the body positions. (go ahead and stay in whatever psition you are doing for all four breaths, but "ease up" on the muscle tightness as you inhale.)

"Lift" and tighten your abdominal muscles AFTER the inhale, as you do the 3 extra sniffs. This tightening is the same kind of muscular contraction that your abs will do automatically when you cough or sneeze -- but in the case of Oxycise! we ask you to practice HOLDING that contraction throughout the 3 sniffs, exhale, and 3 puffs. (The more you practice, the better you will get!)

Then, on top of that abdominal tightening, we ask you to add a "scoop" with your lower abdominal muscles --pull IN your muscles as if you are trying to zip up a tight pair of jeans.

Remember to re-tighten (re-flex) the muscles in your legs, arms, buns, etc. on each breath when you do the "Lift."

Try to take in as much air as possible on your inhale, THEN do 3 extra sniffs. (Even if they're little "wimpy" sniffs... it's the abdominal contraction that counts more than the amount of air here.)

Try to exhale as much air as possible, THEN do the 3 extra puffs. (Even if they are very "wimpy" little puffs... really feel your abs working!)

Try to keep your face, neck and head relaxed -- at all times -- even though you are working other parts of your body. Do not clench your teeth tightly as you smile. (This will help you avoid unnecessary tension and headaches.)

Please write julie@oxycise.com if you have questions!

Wishing success to everyone!
Happy Breathing!

[This message was edited by Julie G on March 02, 2004 at 08:43 PM.]

Hold your hand close to your mouth and exhale by blowing all your air out quickly, onto the back of your hand.

Now make a "tube" out of your hand and blow out slowly but steadily, directing a steady stream of air "through" the tube. Feel the difference?

(The second way, through the "tube" is more what we are after on the Oxycise! exhale)

When you exhale don't try to breathe out all the air at once. Instead, make a steady, controlled flow of air, using your abdominal muscles to control and "pressurize" the air flow as you blow out through flattened lips.

You will be blowing air out with a little resistance, since you have to use some power to get the air out through a smaller opening. This power and control should come from your ab muscles.

Exhale until your lungs feel really empty. This extra effort makes a big difference. THEN, with your abs still working, and when you feel like you don't have any extra air in your lungs, try to blow out just 3 little extra puffs of air. (Keep those abs working -- can you feel your muscles saying "Ouch!?")

Finally, you can relax your ab muscles and start over with the next big inhale. The more air you get OUT of your lungs, the more room you will have for fresh oxygen.


HERE'S a BREATHING EXERCISE THAT MIGHT HELP IMPROVE YOUR BREATH CONTROL on the EXHALE: Try exhaling through one of those paper party-favors that uncurl as you blow through them.... try to keep the air flow steady, and keep the paper tube straight and inflated as long as possible, on one exhale. (If you don't have a party favor handy, you could tape a lightweight 4" piece of string or mylar ribbon to the end of a drinking straw and exhale through the straw, seeing how long you can keep the string/ribbon afloat).

[This message was edited by Julie G on March 02, 2004 at 08:44 PM.]

This is such a good post I wanted to bring it back up to the top!

Just bringing this to the top again for those that might need it!

Kelly S:Wow!! Kelly I just saw your success pic. You look great!!!!!!!!!! I'm proud of you. I want to be just like you one day.

cathey, ark

Julie G......thank you so much for the breathing post! THAT has helped alot....esp.on blowing all the air out --as much as possible---and then holding the abs, do the 3 sniffs! NOW that gets attention!
Seems as if I have been saving a wee bit of air so I could make those 3 sniffs. Now I know better!
thank you again!

Kelly: enjoyed your homepage......

bump

Bringing this topic back to the top for those that might need a review!!