- Updated on October 29, 2020
By Dr. Artour Rakhimov, Alternative Health Educator and Author
- Medically Reviewed by Naziliya Rakhimova, MD
Breathing Exercise for Higher VO2max and Improve Cardio Endurance Naturally
Oxygen transport from outer air to muscle cells and tissue oxygenation are controlled by breathing. Physiological and medical studies prove that more breathing at rest reduces O2 levels in tissues. Hyperventilation reduces body oxygen level. Why?
While overbreathing cannot improve blood oxygenation (it is up to 98% saturated with O2 during light normal breathing), it reduces CO2 content in the body leading to two negative effects down the oxygen delivery cascade:
1) Blood vessels become constricted (CO2 is a potent vasodilator);
2) Oxygen release in capillaries is suppressed since CO2 is a chemical catalyzer of this process. This effect has been known in physiology for a century and described in many textbooks as the Bohr law.
Hence, the less we breathe (down to 2 l per minute for minute ventilation), the better oxygenation of the human body.
Since CO2 is the main factor in breathing control and it also participates in the regulation of dozens of chemical reactions, including synthesis of proteins, lipids, hormones, and immune cells, humans cannot change their unconscious breathing pattern at once. The changes are gradual and usually take, even for healthy people, at least weeks or months.
Obviously, Higher VO2max values are sensitive to the unconscious breathing pattern and body oxygenation at rest. By breathing slightly less (with air hunger) and improving body O2 reserves at rest, we can enhance endurance and increase VO2max within 10-15 minutes just before exercising. This will change breathing during exercise too. It will become easier or lighter (as in super-fit athletes). Hence, better sport performance and fitness.
In this YouTube video, Dr. Artour Rakhimov, a coach of two World Champions, explains how Higher VO2max and cardiovascular endurance.
Instructions: How to increase VO2max with a breathing exercise
The breathing exercise is done only on an empty stomach, with a straight spine (or no slouching) for diaphragmatic breathing, in cool conditions with good air quality. The first step is to listen to your own usual breathing for about 20-30 s. Then, instead of taking large inhalations, take a slightly smaller breath, using your stomach only, and immediately relax all breathing muscles and the rest of the body. Continue to breathe in this light mode, so that you gradually accumulate air hunger (or a desire to breathe more air), while being totally relaxed (this is the most challenging part of this breathing exercise). In 1-2 minutes, if you do it right, you will notice that your arms and feet will be warmer (due to improved circulation), while your nose will be moister and cooler. If you continue to practice this shallow or reduced breathing for about 10-15 minutes, your heart rate also significantly drops and this will also indicate your improved physiological state.
If an athlete learns how to change their unconscious breathing pattern or achieve very light unconscious breathing 24/7, then body oxygenation and VO2max will be greatly improved too. Currently there is only one medically proven therapy that produces these results: the Buteyko breathing technique practiced in Russia by about 200 MDs. In order to learn it, one is required to regularly practice shallow breathing exercises, daily measure own body-oxygen content using a special breath holding time test, breathe through the nose during almost all or all training sessions, prevent sleeping on the back at night, and do many other things that are part of the Buteyko method.
Related web page: Breathing patterns and body oxygenation in more detail.
* This article was created in 2009. There are now detailed instructions on how to increase VO2max and body oxygenation in the Learning Section.
