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
- In each graph above, what are the maximum and minimum flow rates?
- In each graph above, what is the period of breath cycle?
- In each graph above, what is the frequency of breath cycle?
- Why is the first graph not a perfect sine wave?
- Why is the second graph not showing the same shape as the first graph?
Additional Information
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
- 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?)
- 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.
- What are the effects of gravity on fluids in the body (blood, lymph, etc.) during these motions?
- How might these differences in acceleration affect the health benefits and/or risks of yoga?
Additional Information
Schottenbauer Publishing
