Get ready for a fabulous 2021 mountain running season with your best breathing ever! Breathing is all the rage these days, and these popular books offer specific methods to help improve your breathing for better running performance.
Breath: The Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor
Nestor is a writer by trade and his book offers the engaging story of how we came to be a society of over-breathers. Biggest take-away: we could all be healthier if we breath more slowly and through our noses. The book concludes with specific breathing methods, but does not offer a comprehensive methodology for improving breathing performance. I highly recommend this one for the “curious dabbler.”
Buy Breath: The Science of a Lost Art locally at Word After Word Books in Downtown Truckee. Also available as an audiobook via Libro.fm.
The Oxygen Advantage, by Patrick McKewoen
McKewoen presents his step-by-step program branded The Oxygen Advantage. He often works with athletes and presents specific methods to improve athletic breathing performance. His breath-holding method seems attainable and accessible to all levels, and is a good starting point for anyone from a beginning runner to the “serious running geek.”
Order The Oxygen Advantage locally from Word After Word Books in Downtown Truckee. Also available as an audiobook via Libro.fm.
The Wim Hof Method: Activate Your Full Human Potential, by Wim Hof
Hof (a.k.a the Iceman) details his self-branded method in this comprehensive book. Breathwork and cold exposure are the foundations of his method, though you could certainly benefit from the breathwork alone. Although he has participated in numerous scientific studies, his methods and approach feel alot more “out there” and may not appeal to everyone. That being said, his breath training methods add some significant tricks to the McKewoen method, and I highly recommend the Wim Hof Method for the “committed and open-minded athlete.”
Order The Wim Hof Method locally from Word After Word Books in Downtown Truckee.
Study up and get inspired, but most importantly, pick a method and try it!
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