Breathing Patterns

Breathing is an essential component of all forms of physical exercise. 

How can breathing be measured? Take a moment to write a list of variables relevant to breathing. 

Respiration rate (number of breaths per unit time), lung capacity, depth of respiration, and rate of airflow are all ways to measure breathing. 

A spirometer measures the rate of flow of air from breathing. Consider the graphs of spirometer readings below, excerpted from a book series by Schottenbauer Publishing.

Discussion Questions

1. In each graph above, what are the maximum and minimum flow rates?
2. In each graph above, what is the period of breath cycle? 
3. In each graph above, what is the frequency of breath cycle? 
4. Why is the first graph not a perfect sine wave?
5. Why is the second graph not showing the same shape as the first graph?

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

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How Is Acceleration Relevant to Yoga?

As one of the slowest sports, yoga may not seem to contain much acceleration. The phenomena of acceleration, however, is essential to understanding the benefits of yoga, due to the effects of gravity. Gravity is the force which pulls all matter towards the center of the earth. On the earth's surface, the pull of gravity is associated with acceleration downwards. Yoga includes poses in various positions, including full and partial inversions. Therefore, various yoga poses engage the acceleration of earth's gravity in different ways.

Consider the following graph of a sun salutation sequence, excerpted from The Science of Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet: Volume 1 from Schottenbauer Publishing:

Discussion Questions

1. Which direction is initially in the vertical position: x, y, or z? Why? (Hint: What is the acceleration due to gravity at the earth's surface?)
2. Separate the graph into four sections, based on position. Label each section with one of the following: (a) Bow at Waist with Hands in Front or Behind Legs, (b) Hands Up and Around to Backbend, (c) Hands Up and Around to Standing Prayer Position, (d) Standing Prayer Position.
3. What are the effects of gravity on fluids in the body (blood, lymph, etc.) during these motions?
4. How might these differences in acceleration affect the health benefits and/or risks of yoga?

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Schottenbauer Publishing

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The Science of Yoga, Pilates, Dance, & Ballet

The science and math of yoga, pilates, dance, and ballet are topics of new books from Schottenbauer Publishing. Presenting data from real exercises collected by the science writer and publisher M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D., these books bring the "high tech" end of stretching, holding, moving, and leaping to audiences everywhere!

In these books, students can enjoy learning about common moves from yoga, pilates, dance, and ballet. One series of books, written for elementary school students, focuses on geometry. Two series of science books feature graphs and data, illustrating common mathematical functions, plus a variety of concepts from physics and biophysics. The science books can be integrated into classes such as math, physical science, physics, physical education, and health, anywhere from 7th grade through high school, as well as some introductory college and university classes. 

Books include the following:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Yoga
• The Geometry of Ballet 

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Yoga
• The Science of Dance & Ballet

These books are complemented by a series of science books on other popular sports topics, including Olympic sports, athletic training, exercise equipment, gymnastics, and more. Relevant topics include:

Geometry Workbooks

• The Geometry of Gymnastics

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• The Science of Athletic Training 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis
• The Science of Exercise Equipment 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis
• The Science of Gymnastics 
• Volume 1: Force & Acceleration
• Volume 2: Biophysics
• Volume 3: Video Analysis

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• The Science of Physical Fitness
• The Science of Gymnastics

Most of the books above are available in both English and German translation. The books pertaining to the geometry of Olympic sports are also available in 15 world languages. 

The same publisher offers similar books on additional popular topics, including sports, transportation, construction, environment, music, entertainment, and general physics. All of these book series are available in several formats and languages, including the following:

Geometry Workbooks

• Print & E-Book Editions
• Available in English & German
• Olympics Books Available in 15 Languages
• Ballet Book Available in 3 Languages (English, German, & Chinese)

Graphs & Data for Science Lab: Multi-Volume Series

• Print Editions
• Available in English & German

Anthologies of 28 Graphs

• Print Editions
• English Only

Additional Information

Schottenbauer Publishing

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Vendors

Amazon & Worldwide Affiliates

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Books-a-Million

CreateSpace

CreateSpace Wholesale

MusicaNeo Digial Sheet Music

Zazzle Art, Posters, & Memorabilia

Unbeatable Specials

With Kindle Unlimited ($9.99/month) at Amazon.com, you can read all e-books from Schottenbauer Publishing for no extra charge! Amazon offers Free 30 Day Trials of Kindle Unlimited. With this deal, trial members can read all Schottenbauer Publishing e-books free! This includes all the geometry workbooks, plus "The World in a Graph," "Alphabets of the World," textbooks on the science of music, all the e-book puzzles, and the educational novels by M. Schottenbauer, Ph.D.