One thing that I’ve found that REALLY helps if you CANNOT get to a practioner is to watch the Breathing Yoga videos. I went from a panter to a slow and steady while climbing breather and I can do more nose breathing. One thing I do need help with is clogging…Humidities are now in the SINGLE digits with a string of days where humidity is < 5%
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Thanks for this. I had a stroke in January caused by a hole in my heart. I had the heart hole closed in July. It’s been the most challenging time in my life including re-learning how to walk. During my recovery, I also read Nestor’s book called ‘Breath’ and though it took a while, I’ve managed to put nasal breathing into daily practice. I’m doing a basic Pilates routine also and have resumed using my indoor bike at low intensities. I may find that my heart repair changes heart performance somehow but, only time will tell. So far, I’ve managed to maintain nasal breathing during bike sessions including up to about 170bpm and, I’m interested in monitoring the speed at which I can then lower the bpm post peak/increased efforts by deep and controlled nasal breathing. The practice seems to work and helps me sleep better at night, but it did take perseverance. I don’t expect I’ll necessarily maintain nasal breathing during activities like swimming and in future, if I need to take in more oxygen during hard bike or running efforts, I won’t beat myself up about it. But outside those times, nasal breathing is my new norm.
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Glad you are continuing to heal and that the heart issue seems to be resolving itself. Now for continuing strengthening and improving health.
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Brenda, this is fabulous to hear!
James Nestors book is great as it covers all breathing techniques and evidence along side. Rather than siding with one method. There are different breath techniques depending on what you want your nervous system to do…For example, yesterday I decided, for some reason, to do Rue The Day! It was actually very enjoyable haha! But, I was mouth breathing for around a 1/3 I suspect and I was also purposely mouth breathing just before the 2nd and 3rd set to psyche myself up once I knew what was in store.
You will sleep better as you’re subconsciously training yourself not to mouth breath while sleeping… Mouth breathers have a much higher rate of sleep apnea.
Keep working with where your body takes you and be kind to it! The mind is the bodies biggest challenge at times!
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…and vice versa. 
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Nasal breathing can actually allow for more oxygen to get to active tissues during exercise, since breathing through the nose releases nitric oxide, which breaking through the mouth does not. Nitric oxide is necessary to increase CO2 in the blood, which is turn is what releases oxygen.
Of course, there is a limit for most people for how long you can sustain nasal-only breathing as your respiratory rate increases before you are forced to use your mouth as well, and then both (called by some as “first gear”, second gear, and third gears of breathing).
Personally, I find it very useful after a hard interval for recovery, to focus on in through the nose, out through the mouth, and to generally try and nose breathe for as long as it’s comfortable.
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#achatbotsayswhat?
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Here it is! Maybe the forum mods can do a cut and merge from the other thread.
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+1
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When I do Yoga I am always frustrated by the instructions on when to mouth breathe and when to nose breathe. Especially during downward dog. My nose tends to plug up, especially when upside down.
As part of my investigations into my long COVID over the past year, I saw an ENT and had a nasal scope. I figured he would find something. I do have a deviated septum from getting hit in the nose years ago, but he saw no inflammation or blockages or reasons to cause snoring, and definitely no infections. so he had no advice other than that if I really felt I had a problem after doing more Covid testing then he would do some surgery to open my nostrils up a bit more, but that my nose structure looked better than most of the noses he sees.
So, in the end that was no help for my yoga nose plugging issues. But at least I know I don’t have a sinus infection or inflammation of any kind.
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So, because of this topic Sir Eric posted about in the other Wahoo thread, I am sharing my workout after nasal rinse experience today.
Woke up with one side congested so did a Nasal rinse.
Otherwise I felt fine, which is important since I was giving It seemed like thin air a go.
I had zero of my usual runny nose issues, and, somehow made it through that glorious Sufferfest. Other than trying to control my breathing I never gave the nose a second thought the whole time.
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Well done, Sir!
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I occasionally use NasaCort or a saline nasal rinse. They help temporarily. Especially when I have a long ride. But I think part of my problem is the air in the desert is just so dry that my nose works overtime trying to make up for it with extra mucus.
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Interesting! Living in the frigid climate I do not get to experience any length of dry heat. Plenty of dry cold though…
I can see how that would affect the nasal passages. Sounds tough.
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