In the last post I looked at our brain waves when training in the zone.
This time I am looking at heart rate. You are probably aware what happens to your heart rate when you suddenly get very anxious about something. Your heart rate increases! Often you can be aware of your heart ‘pounding’. What has happened is that you have switched your metabolism into the “Flight-Fight” mode. Your brainwaves will switch into BetaWave and be orchestrating the body to prepare itself for fight or flight. In anticipation the heart rate increases so as to circulate more oxygen and energy to the body particularly the muscles. Muscles can tighten and hold themselves rigid and with the increase in heart rate the breathing rate increases also – the two go hand in hand.
Try this in the Gym or at home. A heart rate monitor can be useful, but just measuring your pulse rate will do. Measure your resting heart (pulse) rate. Then start exercising gently breathing in and out through the nose until you feel you have to mouth breathe. Gradually up the exercise if necessary until you have to mouth breathe. Stop exercising once you start mouth breathing and measure you heart (pulse) rate again.
Make a note of your heart rate when you switch to mouth breathing (next post I will tell you what this was and the significance!). Be aware that when you switch to mouth breathing you will activate the sympathetic nervous system and the flight-fight response. So training becomes less enjoyable. Once you are into mouth breathing it is difficult for you to stay ‘in the zone’
Next Time: I will look at what happens when you switch from nose-breathing to mouth breathing
