Let Your Tongue Be Your Governor

Categories: Blog Dec 07, 2014

 

[caption id="attachment_2354" align="alignnone" width="142"] The tongue can guide your training.[/caption]

I don't believe you can segment, or separate parts, or systems, of the body. I know it can be attempted, but I don't think maximum benefit can come when we try to isolate one part of the body from another. I believe for maximum benefit and health of the whole body, the body must be viewed as "whole."

For example, the ankle joint could be isolated and targeted for improved ankle mobility solely by working on the mobility of that joint alone, in isolation. Or, the ankle could be targeted for improved mobility by working on the mobility and movements of all the joints together, in integration as done in the reset of rocking.

When it comes to "exercise" we often separate the body. We "train" cardio separate from muscles, or we train strength independent of endurance. We can attempt this, we can try isolate these qualities and systems apart from each other and their may be some perceived benefit, but I don't think it is the best way. The body is ONE. One whole integrated, beautifully orchestrated, cohesive design. No parts were intended to be separated from the other. No system was intended to be isolated from another.

What if your cardiovascular function was to be improved and increased along with your strength enhancement? It can be and perhaps it should be. In Original Strength, we hold to the idea that if we move the way we should, things in the body work the way they should. So, if we breathed the way we were intended to breathe, with our diaphragm, then perhaps we would have a more efficient cardiovascular system.

We are made to breathe through our nose (they aren't just for smelling). And, if we keep our tongues on the roof of our mouth, the natural resting place of the tongue, it encourages us to breathe through our nose, using the diaphragm as we should. What if you could leopard crawl for 10 minutes only breathing through your nose? I'll bet you would have a very efficient cardiovascular system, a system that was trained while you were "strength training".

Maybe you prefer strength training through other means. Still, what if whatever tool you used for strength training, you maintained the ability to breathe through your nose the entire time? I'm willing to bet you would build tremendous cardiovascular endurance. Whether you are walking, running, crawling, swinging, sprinting, lifting, or whatever - if you could always maintain the ability to breathe through your nose, your body would be one strong, capable, everlasting specimen of poetic motion. If your diaphragm had this kind of endurance (the diaphragm is a muscle), your entire body would be able to express more strength and stamina because all of your muscles would receive more oxygen - you wouldn't tire, you wouldn't pant, you wouldn't crumble.

Yes, I did mention walking above in my strength training list. If you are tied together properly, walking can be strength training. Anyway, how does one build endurance and resiliency in the diaphragm, enabling the body to express both strength and cardiovascular endurance? By using the tongue as a governor.

You can use your tongue as the regulator for when to rest when it comes to retraining your diaphragm. If you were to go for a walk, practicing breathing through your nose, with your tongue on the roof of your mouth, how long can you maintain this? If your mouth were to fly open and you had to start breathing through your mouth, you are tired (your diaphragm may be tired too) - you need to rest. Your tongue can be your gauge for any activity. The moment you lose the ability to rest it on the roof of your mouth, more than likely, that is the moment you stop breathing through your nose. That is the moment you can rest and recover. When you are able to place the tongue back where it belongs and breathe in your nose again, you are ready to resume your activity.

Over time, you will be able to go and go without losing your ability to breathe through your nose. You could run a mile, sprint a 100 yard dash, or crawl for 10 minutes without ever once opening your mouth to breathe. When you get to that point, your body should be quite resilient. This may not happen overnight, but it can happen with a little time, patience and consistency.

I know this is crazy thought - sprinting with your mouth closed, exercising while maintaining nasal and diaphragmatic breathing - but your body can do this. And when it does, your whole body is performing as ONE, a cardiovascular-muscular endurance and strength united being. You are not a collection of parts, systems, or pieces. You were made to be wholly integrated.

The tongue can govern so many areas of your life. How you breathe, and how resilient you can become are in the power of your tongue. Learn to use it.
Wanna try this?

Try baby crawling for 5 minutes with your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Keep your mouth closed, and breathe through your nose. When/if your mouth pops open and you start breathing in your mouth, take a break and recover. Work for 5 straight minutes of non-interrupted nasal breathing.

Too easy? Try the same thing while leopard crawling for 5 minutes.

Have that down too? Try walking briskly for 20 minutes doing the same thing.

If you want more, try running a mile with your mouth closed, tongue on the roof of your mouth, and breathe through your nose.

With all of these, if your mouth opens, rest and recover. When you can close your mouth and go, move on. Eventually, this can become easy. When it does, you've got great endurance and ability - all around!

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