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My roomate (a trumpet player) and I were discussing this earlier today and I thought it would be interesting to see what the members of this forum thought.

That sure sucks, of course I know to stop doing breathing exercises as soon as I start to feel light headed. That's a no brainer.

I would think that as long as the breathing is continued to be done properly throughout your entire breathing exercise, it shouldn't be a problem. Perhaps the question to ask is weather or not you are breathing "better" afterward.

As for training the muscles involved in breathing the same rules would apply as to any other muscular training: if overdone like going from zero training to full tilt for long periods, then muscular damages may occur.

Having very strong breathing muscles may cause problems of its own if combined with asthma and/or allergy. Very abrupt coughing or sneezing may cause damaged fibers in the muscles between the ribs. An experience I do not recommend.

The most vulnerable spot in extended breathing exercises is the surface tissue of the lungs. If you are not well hydrated, the exercises will soon stop due to dry coughing. Any odd chemical contents of the air should also be avoided. Don’t play or train in your studio while the paint is drying. Avoid any smoking in your studio. For sensitive lungs recycling ones own air like recommended by some authorities is bad. Breathing the air from a rubber ball which has had its surfaces powdered with talcum is asking for problems. Sharing any device from which one inhales with other persons is asking for severe problems.

Klaus

That picture is a sure sign that God really loves us!

b.williams wrote:That picture is a sure sign that God really loves us!

And where the idea of airbags came from.

Depends on what exsercises you do. What are you doing???

brianf wrote:Depends on what exsercises you do. What are you doing???

I think that's a good answer, and Brian has some cred to back up any advice he gives.

Speaking for myself, I am increasingly of the opinion that breathing exercises serve two distinct but related purposes, and different exercises target the two purposes differently.

1. Over-training. Stretching beyond the "normal" needs of playing the instrument, so that what we actually have to do to play feels as close to effortless as possible. Too much of this can cultivate physical tension rather than release it, so it's good to monitor your body and do some things to "warm down" from the most strenuous exercises. I think it's also important to leave these kinds of exercises behind when you're done for the day, and not try to apply them exactly to playing the instrument.

2. Cultivating good habits that you will apply to the instrument; the turnaround from inhale to exhale (and vice-versa) for example. The relaxed quick breath with longer timed exhale is another good example. I think there's less danger of doing too much of these kinds of exercises.

I'm also increasingly of the opinion that many of us prioritize the inhale over the exhale too much, and it can lead to trouble. The work of playing a wind instrument, after all, is blowing out. The inhale serves the exhale, not the other way around.

personally i think the hiatal hernia I now have is partially due to the deep breathing excercises i did to increase capacity.

ken k

bloke wrote:

Some things can speed up breathing and others can slow it down. Occasionally, two forces will appear which tend to counteract each other.

I can't believe it's been this long since the last posting of that picture...

My talented alto girlfriend (who has quite superior flotation devices compared to the above posted women) stopped by briefly tonight. She saw a couple of my breathing devices on the counter and wanted to try them. At only 5'2 I was not expecting much from her, but she took a slow long breath on the spirometer and hit 3.5 liters on the very first try. She told me that when she was in college, they would have the singers do breathing exercises lying flat on the floor, to prevent developing improper breathing habits. It makes sense to me; the floor will force you into good posture.