Chase The Kangaroo

~ Marc Pro  | Repost In nature, animals experience and deal with stress in a very different way than humans. The story of the lion hunting the antelope is a great example of this. When the lion attacks the antelope, both animals experience heightened senses and stress (sympathetic state). But, even if the antelope manages to get away, both animals return to a calm state shortly after (parasympathetic state). The main difference between animals and humans is that humans tend to hang on to stress and do not downregulate shortly after a stressful situation is over. This leaves them in a sympathetic state for longer than necessary. Parasympathetic vs. Sympathetic State The Parasympathetic Nervous System controls homeostasis and restores the body to a calm state. This nervous system activates the “rest and digest” response that decreases heart rate. During the parasympathetic state, the body is able to repair and relax. The Sympathetic Nervous System controls the body’s respons...

Laird Hamilton: Harness the Power of Breath By Laird Hamilton,  Men's Journal  | Repost What's the one fuel at your immediate disposal during a long or grueling workout? Oxygen. It's obvious; still, most of us think of breathing only when we're sucking wind. That's a mistake, because boosting your oxygen intake before, during, and after a workout gives your muscles the means to push harder and longer, and helps to make training actually feel a lot better. (Which is why I think people get a runner's high: The constant cardio forces them to breathe.) I recently began a breathing practice with one clear goal — to flood my lungs and blood with O² — and it's made sprints, strength training, and swimming seem more effortless. Here's how to work it into your training. Before: Prime Your Lungs During any physical activity, the demand for oxygen rises, leading you to breathe more heavily. But if you reverse that process — increasing your oxygen intak...