WHAT IT IS HRV: Heart Rate Variability WHAT IT MEANS HRV is the variation in time between consecutive heartbeats, controlled by our autonomic nervous system. We frequently discuss the two halves of the autonomic nervous system on our blog—sympathetic and parasympathetic—as both are influenced by how you breathe. Our parasympathetic nervous system is activated while…
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We’ve all heard that exercise is good for us, but research shows that moving your body can physically change your brain, from increasing brain plasticity to encouraging the formation of new neural pathways. The best part? Some studies suggest that we can tap into these benefits with as little as five minutes per day. Here…
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Staying healthy and getting in the holiday spirit don’t always go hand in hand, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have the best of both worlds this holiday season. If you tend to struggle with staying fit and feeling well during this time of year but can’t schedule in more time to exercise, we have…
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If you thought your breathing habits didn’t have a measurable impact on your health, all you have to do is open your mouth, and dentist Dr. Sasha Sherry will give you a full rundown on how you’re doing. Dr. Sherry is one of the dentists who recommends Intake to her patients to help protect and…
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“It’s all about the breath.” Joe Rogan “If you’re not breathing right, you’re never really going to be healthy.” James Nestor Ep. #1506 of the Joe Rogan Experience is all about nose breathing, and why you should be doing it. In this episode, Joe Rogan interviews James Nestor, a journalist who’s written for Outside Magazine,…
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Last month, we were ready to double down on any quarantine fitness challenges and streamable workouts we could get our hands on. We felt pressured to come out of this period of downtime with something to show for: a personal best, some extra muscle tone, a fully-tackled marathon training program. We thrive on pushing ourselves,…
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Here at the Intake Office, we like to eat. An entire season dedicated to pie, mashed potatoes, and excuses to skip the gym and stuff our faces with those we hold near and dear is right up our alley. But inevitably, the new year rolls around and we have to sober up to the fact…
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Many studies, such as this one, that compare nasal to oral breathing deduce that, during exercise, oral breathing tends to be favorable because not enough air can be inhaled through the nose. Even for those of us with physiologically “perfect” noses, nasal breathing during exercise (especially without a nasal dilator) has to be practiced in…
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Our noses evolved to be our body’s air conditioners: our nasal passages humidify air and filter out particulates so that the air we inhale into our lungs is as non-irritating as possible. The internal nose alone provides 90% of the respiratory system’s air-conditioning requirement. This means that your lungs and throat have to nearly double…
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Our moods are affected by our brain and our nervous system. Studies have shown that our nose is linked to the function of our amygdala, which contributes to our ability to feel emotions and perceive them in others, and our parasympathetic nervous system, which is associated with feelings of centeredness and relaxation. When we breathe…
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