Dear Edo, we need not to mix exercise and CP measurement. It’s completely OK to have hardly noticeable microbreaths when you are doing exercise and withstanding air hunger – it’s natural. But when you are doing CP – there’s absolutely no microbreaths involved, as they come after the first air-hunger. And then it’s not a CP measurement anymore – as there’s no air-hunger involved in CP measurement at all.

When Involving fingers is good, as it makes more NO – nitrogen monoxide available. And there is less NO without clinched nostrils. This is good both for CP measurement and for exercise.

On the other hand, when you exercise without clinched nostrils you are able to relax in your arms and shoulders a little more. So I understand that you enjoy it more. Let’s talk about it on our Q&A.

Cheers Misha

Here I am again with a question about Buteyko. I am practicing for several months now and my CP is most of the times between 30 and 40. Sometimes higher. Mostly I use my fingers but I get a bit tired of it. When I do not use my fingers I like the exercise much more and I get CPs from 60 or higher. Is it OK to exercise it without using the fingers? It makes me much more motivated to exercise it multiple times a day and an advantage is also that it feels more convenient if other people are in my neighboorhood. But the downside might be that I take several microbreaths without even noticing it. What do you think?

Thanks again,
Ed

… I see this picture of a nice looking man walking in the wood… in a not quite normal way… SERIOUSLY SCARY!!!!

venlig hilsen og en god dag tilgodeset

That’s what we call synchronicity. One known philosopher (and also mass murderer) called Lenin said this (probably stolen from Hegel): Coincidence is just a reflection of objective necessity… or God’s way of remaining anonymous. The latter extention is from Einstein.

Use our 3D MPE from week 2 – remember one of the 3 virtual joints – one in the head area? Yes, your tongue 🙂 Do it in all 3 dimensions while walking – be sure not to meet anybody on your way. They would risk getting seriously scared for their own life… hahaha

Cheers and gezondheid <3 Misha

Dear Edo, I do the same as you. When I’m comfortable with my surroundings I do use fingers. When I’m not I just hold breath and smile – relaxation is primary, remember. So – YES it’s still effective. Using fingers is secondary – but it adds NO to your air blend. So do it when you feel OK with it.

Good question. Training allostatic resilience is crucial. Let me tell you about my personal experience with cold.

As you probably know, I go in sandals all year – inclusive winter. I feel it adds positively to my thermoregulation capacity and to my immunity. I also have taken cold showers for the last 40 years of my life 😉 I also swim in the lake all year – at least couple times a week. What I’m trying to tell you – try using your natural surroundings and allow it to work. Try not to overload your body to fast. I was doing it long time and it happened naturally. Wim Hof method puts you in sympathetic response, which is basically stress – and it triggers adrenal response, cortisol etc. Buteyko trains para-sympathetic response –> health.

My advice, and I will try not to sound too ‘new age’ 😉 Try to start going with sandals this summer – and the fall. Try to swim this summer – and the fall. Take cold showers. Don’t overload your system too fast. You have all the TIME in your life to do it. Do not stress, take it slower but enjoy more instead. And look what happens 🙂

Another question: I do the Wim Hof Method and I take cold showers daily. I bought a cheap second hand freeze chest to sit in icecold water for a minute or 2 max. After doing this for 10 days I got a cold. Besides that: the freezer seems to be not working anymore. So I am doubting if I should buy a new one. Do you think this cold training is an essential part of health training? Or do you think cold showers every day are good enough? I do not have the opportunity to swim in natural cold water regularly, so a freeze chest is the most logical option for me for serious cold training.