By Dan Vidal
We all know that hitting the gym or studio to train on a regular basis is an important part of any health and wellness plan. We also know that properly calibrating our diet, sleep, and training regimen is a great way to ensure proper gains and prevent injury. However, there is another crucial factor that underlies all others, and unfortunately, is often one of the most overlooked.
This crucial but overlooked factor is the way we breathe. If despite your best efforts you are suffering from chronic fatigue, excess weight, headaches, chronic pain, sugar/junk food cravings and stress, it is possible that this might be the underlying cause. It is estimated that up to 70% of men and 40% of women have some form of sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Recent research has linked breathing disorders to a wide range of medical conditions, including diabetes, obesity, anxiety, depression, and autoimmune disorders to name a few. In order to properly recover and repair, our bodies need a sufficient quantity and quality of stage 3 deep sleep. Any disruptions in our ability to breathe can negatively affect this. The bottom line is, if you aren’t breathing well, you aren’t living well, and you certainly aren’t training and recovering well.
Healthy breathing starts with your airway. The airway is formed by your nasal passages as well and the structures of the jaw and throat. Excess tension in the muscles that retract your jaw can impinge your airway. Remember, if you can’t breathe properly, your body won’t able to recover properly. In this case, your training can actually be doing more harm than good. Often it takes no more than a quick Neurosomatic assessment and a handful of treatments to drastically improve these issues. If you are suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms, contact us to schedule an assessment today.