[tjontheroad]

I was wondering how many of you work out to improve your breathing and over all cardiovascular health? As I get older (I'm 40), I find it harder and harder to maintain my lung strength. Sadly, I have precious little time for other than the day job, daily commute, family time and practice/rehearsal to dedicate towards reducing my waistline and overall conditioning. Shame no one (yet) has invented the little blue pill to cause over four hours of uplifting saxual performance Just think of the TV commercials?!?!?!

Anyway, if you do exercise, please tell if that's helped your playing.

 

[RootyTootoot]

Yes. Swimming. And it does make a difference to posture and breathing capacity.

 

[tjontheroad]

Swimming would be ideal for breathing strength I bet. Didn't think of that.

 

[DTExpress]

Free weights and a little running 4 times a week for the past six months has helped my wind but more so my posture and stamina to stand and play my tenor. My working band does three 50-60min sets with a 20-25min break in between on the average of twice a week every week and dropping some flab and putting on a little lean mass has helped. Get some dumbells and decent running shoes and start with 20 min sessions alternating running and weights on different days. You'll be amazed at the results in just a month!

 

[DTExpress]

Oh yeah, I just turned the big 40 too. Congrats TJ.

 

[brasscane]

I have been running long distance consistently for the past 17 years. I am guessing it helps although I have intention of stopping see what the difference might be. As far as playing the sax goes, the time might have been better spent practicing.

 

[hakukani]

I can't run because of bad knees and a bad back. I try to ride my bicycle three times a week, snorkel at least once a month (weather permitting), and I walk as much as my job will let me. I also do yardwork and housecleaning (my own--not other people's). The strongest muscles on in my body are still my embouchure muscles and breathing system.

I don't do a 'program', and I really hate weightlifting. Actually, I hate any exercize that has no purpose other than 'working out'. That smacks of therapy rather than exercize.


I'm just a fat and happy 51 year old, in decent health.

 

[tjontheroad]

Oh yeah, I just turned the big 40 too. Congrats TJ.

It's a great age

I use to mountain bike 20 miles at a time when I was in my 30's, but I've gotten out of the groove lately. I need to go for it again.

 

[Ken]

Tj, I've always worked out since my teen years, but it's never been for saxual reasons. In fact exercise is a way for me to get away from things. I heard Garzone runs 5 miles a day.

Imo more exercise is not necessary for improved saxual performance assuming your health is ok. Just practice more!

 

[RootyTootoot]

Swimming would be ideal for breathing strength I bet. Didn't think of that.

I'll bore you with a little story. I've been swimming at a mediocre level since i was in my teens and used to compete although it was always one of my least favourite sports. Now my knee's wonky so i don't have much choice. Always troubled me that I didn't seem to be able to swim very far freestyle. I noticed that many of my sax pupils don't take on sufficient breath to support their sound. In a kind of "eureka" moment I realised that maybe when I breathe at swimming I'm not breathing deep enough. So I tried breathing deeper. All of a sudden I'm effing Mark Spitz (comparatively!!) I thought this was kind of interesting because it shows that those breakthrough moments can continue to happen even when one's a bit older. And I actually do think that I tend to play better when I'm healthy happy and relaxed - for me, exercize helps in all those areas. Interesting that this thread seems a bit of a talking shop for 40 year old males! (yeah, me too )

 

[jazzbluescat]

Physical conditioning and saxual performance

I was wondering how many of you work out to improve your breathing and over all cardiovascular health?..............

Not a darn thing. I can't run/trot very far because of bad knees. Swimming would be ideal if I didn't have recurring swimmer's ear and if floating wasn't so much easier.

 

[saxmanglen]

Here's another forty something or other chimming in.

I enjoy biking using an heart rate monitor. I usually ride 2-3 times weekly for about an hour or better, keeping the BPM in the 160 range. I'm much better for it if I can stick to it consistantly.

 

[RS]

For exercise I stumble, then fall into a coma.

 

[Mark R]

I heard Garzone runs 5 miles a day.

I read somewhere a while back that Eric Alexander also runs daily too.

 

[jazzbluescat]

For exercise I stumble, then fall into a coma.

No call for bragging.

 

[Jolle]

I quitted a lot of bad habits, and that made a difference already. Now I just have to give up cigarettes and start swimming again. It does make a difference. Even just walking enough makes a difference.

 

[tjontheroad]

For exercise I stumble, then fall into a coma.

This only works on Friday nights doing 12 once heavy lifting.

 

[RS]

12 ounces are for beginners. Experienced lifters use 16 ounces.

 

[saxmanglen]

Sounds like your in shape to move up to these now:

 

[RS]

Whoa! That looks lethal. Would I need some kind of permit for that?