Monthly Archives: June 2012

When practising breathing techniques, using a child as a role model is perfect. They have the correct posture – head up shoulders relaxed and level and perfect alignment of hips, knees and ankles, everything required to breathe efficiently – just perfectly natural. Adults don’t have such a perfect posture – laziness, tight clothing and weariness, all resulting in us breathing less efficiently which impacts our speaking and singing.

However, it doesn’t have to be like this! Loosen that waistband, relax and follow these great steps to correct breathing.  I noticed the difference, will you?

Posture is important. Practice good...

Singing is all about having a good technique. Like any other sport you can train yourself to become better at it. How do you do this? Simple, you need to use various breathing techniques related to singing which help you exercise and train your lungs, vocal chords, diaphragm and help you with breath control to enable you to make your voice more powerful which means you can hold notes for much longer.

Before using any breathing techniques to help your singing you first need to learn some basic breathing techniques to help you breathe normally. These basics will teach you how the lungs, diaphragm and trachea all work together to help you breathe.

When you...

In general, the human organism was not designed to breathe deeply at all times and in all situations. The depth of our breath, whether it is shallow, medium, or deep depends in large part on what it is we are doing. If we are sitting quietly reading, for example, we do not need to be breathing deeply. If we are working hard and expending a great deal of energy, however, we might well need to breathe deeply. Another situation in which deep breathing can be beneficial is when we are trying to revitalise our energy.

Deep breathing can be important to both health and spiritual development. Such breathing can increase our vitality and promote relaxation. Unfortunately, when we...

I realise that I haven't updated my PB Blog in a while, having had a really disappointing run in London, I took a few weeks off training. However, after a few days I was chomping at the bit to make myself even better and I have taken this new enthusiasm into my training over the last month and a bit and really enjoying running again.

After any big race, especially the marathon, you always feel a bit flat and it takes time to get back into your running, The first 2 - 3 weeks when I come back from marathon training are some of the most horrible running weeks I ever have. Whereas before the marathon you feel like you are floating on air, the legs just feel heavy...

Breathing is one of the most important things we do on a daily basis to help us live well each and every day. If we don’t breathe our organs will not receive the vital supply of oxygen required to help us live. Breathing also has a second function, it also helps to rid the body of toxins and waste products.

Oxygen is the most vital nutrient for our bodies and is essential for the brain, nerves, glands and all the internal organs.  We can go many days without food and water but with no oxygen supply we will die in a matter of minutes. The brain is the organ which requires more oxygen than any other organ. A lack of oxygen can cause mental sluggishness, negative...

Hello everyone!

Yes, it has been a long time since my last update but I am trying to get it rolling again as I'm running with the flame in about five weeks time :-)

I’m now closer to 30,000 miles now.  The POWERbreathe has been making a big difference to my aims.  Although everything hasn’t been plain sailing.  The most exciting coming is the fact I’m running with the Olympic torch in July.  Something in Southampton which I’m looking forward too.  On top of my cycling I have also been getting involved in athletics and have managed to get myself onto the power of ten rankings for f37 shot and discus.  I was denied the chance to compete in the Olympic stadium at...

The British Olympic Association (BOA) selected Anthony, silver medallist at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and Men’s Middleweight (75kg) to be part of Team GB’s largest ever Olympic boxing squad.

We presented Anthony with a POWERbreathe to help him quickly improve his breathing strength and stamina following a period of inactivity as he recovered from a sports injury. Anthony will be keeping us updated with his training progress, which understandably will be ad hoc as he obviously has more pressing matters to think about.

Rob McCraken, Team GB Boxing Team Leader and British Amateur Boxing Association Performance...

Just a quick recap, Andy and Lotte are both endurance runners and are currently training for the Gore-tex Transalpine Run which takes place from the 1st – 8th September.

We provided Lotte with a POWERbreathe (Andy was already using his own) in order to help her improve her breathing strength and stamina in preparation for the demand that altitude will place upon her breathing muscles.

Andy and Lotte are keeping us updated with their training experience in the run-up to this event, and here’s a little background information…

Andy and Lotte spend the majority of their free time with...

Our very own Duncan visited the lovely people at Dawkes Music in Maidenhead recently to present POWERbreathe.

Dawkes Music specialise in woodwind and brass instruments and expressed an interest in POWERbreathe to see if it could be beneficial to the musicians who visit them. But rather than take our word for it, Duncan presented Vicky and Giulia with a POWERbreathe Plus Medium Resistance model each, so that they could experience the breathing training effects for themselves. They plan to use them over the next 4 weeks to see if it helps them hold a note for longer on their instruments.

Before training with their POWERbreathes, Duncan tested them...

If you're in this for the long haul 'Keep your eye on the ball!'

Everyman Male Cancer Awareness Month is all about raising awareness to testicular and prostate cancer.

The disease is an even bigger killer than lung disease . Almost 43,000 men are diagnosed with a form of male-specific cancer each year in the UK.

Every year in June an advert is launched to make people sit up and notice - past celebrities who have taken part have included Dermot O'Leary and Robbie Williams.  It's not an easy subject to broach and the easy-going nature of the adverts has helped reach a lot of men.

If you're not sure how to do a testicular self examination, click here.  It's not as scary as it sounds, promise! And it could definitely save your life.