feud with the gym teacher

_TEMPEST_

So I am not a marathon runner, but I have always been taught that while running, you should aim to breathe in a natural, steady, rhythmic pattern with your footfalls....in through the nose, out through the mouth.

So...

My son came home from school the other day complaining about running in gym class. Mind you, he is not a runner and gets winded pretty quickly, but he tries. He stopped to catch his breath and his gym teacher told him that when he is struggling to breathe while running, he should hold his breath as long as he can and push through it. My son says that he feels like he's going to pass out when he does this but the teacher insists.

We're not talking about track & field or cross country here...we are talking about 4th graders.

Am I right to be upset or is there a benefit to holding your breath while running???

peckish_pomegranate

It's a school gym coach...they're not fitness experts!

omma_to_3

I've never heard that. Sounds bizarre, but I have zero formal training on the subject.

ValerieMomof2

So some think that holding your breath helps increase lung capacity but I haven't found anything that would convince me this is true so yeah, I agree with you. When I struggle breathing, I take deep breaths and try to let it out slowly to try to get control back, NEVER hold my breath

pastryari

Speak with the teacher and/or principal.

jimmmer

It's a school gym coach...they're not fitness experts!

I'm not sure a school coach couldn't be an expert.

It was apparently a technique in vogue with swimming coaches once - meant to increase conditioning faster. Does it work? Does it work for running? Of that, I have no idea......

meshashesha2012

maybe they meant in terms of taking deeper breaths?

i dunno but holding your breath while running doesn't sound right unless you're running underwater

aswearingen22

I've always been told to take deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth to settle the heart rate down. Holding your breath is really weird.

jimmmer

Lots of things might be "really weird", but that doesn't really speak to the effectiveness of the technique or not.

Like I said, it's not so in vogue with swimming coaches any more. As far as runners, at least one world record holder and one gold medal winner in the 80's were trained in hypoxic techniques by their coaches. However, the hypoxic training could have had little or no effect, or even retarded gains they may have experienced with the training. Without a counter-factual case it's hard to say.

FullOfWin

Im not a runner but, does not sound legit

_TEMPEST_

interesting...

the research that I found says a lot of the same as you mentioned, and I wanted to get some objective opinions and info before taking on the teacher myself. Thanks for that, all!

I do know that it's creating a LOT of anxiety for my son as he dreads going to school on "gym days" just because of this.

nguk123

If the pupil complains of severe discomfort, and this is in the context of breath (necessary for life), and the teacher 'insists'
I am comfortable declaring the teacher to be a huge *kitten*. You might want to pass that message onto the principle.

kjm3579

The gym teacher is an idiot. Like they say, those that can do, do. Those that can't, teach.

_TEMPEST_

I am comfortable declaring the teacher to be a huge *kitten*. You might want to pass that message onto the principle.

LMAO. You are after my heart.

fallenoaks

The teacher can't force him to do this. It's his body, his choice. What's going to happen if he says no? He gets detention or fails the class for not holding his breath? Not likely.

Sounds like it could be a liability issue if a kid actually does pass out and hits their head, or if the kid is having an asthma attack instead of just trying to catch their breath.

knittnponder

Hasn't she ever watched the Magic School Bus muscle episode?! Sheesh! Even Miss Frizzle knows better than your son's gym teacher! I think it's this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHgVeY0Rlh4

jimmmer

interesting...

the research that I found says a lot of the same as you mentioned, and I wanted to get some objective opinions and info before taking on the teacher myself. Thanks for that, all!

I do know that it's creating a LOT of anxiety for my son as he dreads going to school on "gym days" just because of this.

It's not cool if it's wigging your son out! Whether the technique is valid or not, is irrelevant. I bet if you took him/her aside and mentioned your son's fears then there should be a different way forward that doesn't freak him out..... if not, then you've got a problem and it's time to punch the teacher. But try to be reasonable first!

SoDamnHungry

Hasn't she ever watched the Magic School Bus muscle episode?! Sheesh! Even Miss Frizzle knows better than your son's gym teacher! I think it's this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHgVeY0Rlh4

Ms. Frizzle knows ALL.

Hadabetter

What a great opportunity for you. This is where you talk to him about the difference between suggestions, and demands, and that not everyone who gives him advice know what the **** they are talking about.

drgndancer

That sounds... unlikely to work. In fact it sounds borderline insane. The correct thing for son to do (or any new runner of any age) is to slow down and/or use intervals of walking to prevent getting out of breath in the first place. A training run should never have you badly out of breath unless it's speed training or sprints or something. Go slower to get faster is one of the tenets of modern running and works for everyone of every age. There are exceptions at the professional or world class amateur level, but not many fourth graders qualify there, and even then this doesn't sound like an Alberto Salazar training plan. I might go so far as to go into the schools and ask this guy why in the hell he's telling kids to minimize oxygen intake during an aerobic activity.

I'm not sure a school coach couldn't be an expert.

It was apparently a technique in vogue with swimming coaches once - meant to increase conditioning faster. Does it work? Does it work for running? Of that, I have no idea......

It sounds pretty damn sketchy to me as far as the physiological reasoning, but even then you're talking about a technique for athletes intended to improve an already fit swimmer's cardiovascular system to an even greater level of fitness. Not something you tell an out of breath 4th grader.

_TEMPEST_

All this has gotten me thinking about the Presidential Fitness Test they do in gym class....
At my son's age, he has to run a 9 minute mile to pass, a 7 minute mile to get an award. That's 6-7 mph, and I know a lot of adults who can't do that.

If students do not pass this test, are there consequences for the teacher? Much like if students fail the proficiency tests for academics? Could this be why the gym teacher is doing this, so he can push the kids to pass the test and not get in trouble himself?

RGv2

All this has gotten me thinking about the Presidential Fitness Test they do in gym class....
At my son's age, he has to run a 9 minute mile to pass, a 7 minute mile to get an award. That's 6-7 mph, and I know a lot of adults who can't do that.

If students do not pass this test, are there consequences for the teacher? Much like if students fail the proficiency tests for academics? Could this be why the gym teacher is doing this, so he can push the kids to pass the test and not get in trouble himself?

No, there are no concequences for the teacher.

1223345

I say the teacher needs a talking to. I took up running after I quit smoking years ago and it took me a good year to get good at running. Your son may be nervous because of the teacher and this may also be preventing his proper breathing. It would be a good idea for him to practice his running/breathing rhythm outside of class. I started out at a VERRRRRRY slow jog and this made it easier to find my rhythm. As a runner your self I am sure you know what I mean. For a non-runner to master this takes a little longer. Especially if he does not enjoy running.

RGv2

The gym teacher is an idiot. Like they say, those that can do, do. Those that can't, teach Phy Ed.

Fixed

melinda3792

The teacher is lucky I am not in your shoes. I would be going to the school during said running class and in the middle of it, clamp my hands over his nose and mouth and whisper "just breath through it"

RGv2

The teacher is lucky I am not in your shoes. I would be going to the school during said running class and in the middle of it, clamp my hands over his nose and mouth and whisper "just breath through it"

Internet Toughguy?

vim_n_vigor

Has you son been tested for asthma? If he is having a very hard time breathing, it may be worth getting him checked. He could have exercise induced asthma.

While you are beating the crap out of the teacher for having your son hold his breathe while he is running, you can tell your son that one thing to try is to breathe in for 3 steps and out for 3 steps. It can help keep the rhythm steady. Also, something like saying his ABC's or multiplication tables while running are things that can help him focus his energy away from just the breathing and can calm him which could help. These are things that got me through running in grade school anyway...

ijavagypsy

I'm of the "children should be seen and not heard" era. I became winded easily in a swimming leader's training class in high school but got pulled from the group because of plantar warts. As an adult, I never did better that 56 minutes in a 10 K, and I ran six miles a day for three days a week from 1982 through 1993. Finally had a pulmonologist check me out and discovered that I have an obstructive pulmonary defect (asthma). Then had a checkup by a noninvasive cardiologist and was found to have mitral valve prolapse upon medical imaging. To be honest, I also have a hearing defect and couldn't understand the calls during square dance instruction in gym class. The gym teachers assumed that I was either stupid or inattentive. I earned two regents' college scholarships and admission to a college that used competitive scores to assess admissions (only the top 5% of every graduating class was considered for entrance). What I'm trying to say is that some "teachers" really don't know which end is up. I suggest that your son get a consult from a physician who is skilled in sports medicine, get a note for your son prescribing his exercise parameters, and express your willingness to confer liability upon anyone who exceeds those parameters.
Rant over.
Hope this helps.

1223345

Has you son been tested for asthma? If he is having a very hard time breathing, it may be worth getting him checked. He could have exercise induced asthma.

While you are beating the crap out of the teacher for having your son hold his breathe while he is running, you can tell your son that one thing to try is to breathe in for 3 steps and out for 3 steps. It can help keep the rhythm steady. Also, something like saying his ABC's or multiplication tables while running are things that can help him focus his energy away from just the breathing and can calm him which could help. These are things that got me through running in grade school anyway...

This sounds wierd but, I used to count my foot falls and breath in on "1 and 2 and 3" and breath out on "and 4 and 5 and " when I got to numbers with more than a syllable, each syllable would be a count as well "se ven and eight and" or "twen ty one and" sometimes the breath would only a 4 count if I was doing well as far as my pace. I knew that when I could not count in this way I was not pacing myself properly.

Doodlewhopper

Maybe the teacher said it and maybe he didnt. Assuming that the OP's son related the teacher's instructions accurately....what's the big deal? Kids hold their breath all the time.

drgndancer

Whoa, whoa, whoa here. Exercise physiologists? Asthma testing? Physical violence to the teacher? Guys, we have a kid that isn't used to running, and he got out of breath doing it. This is normal. The teacher gave (poor in my opinion, though the child may have misunderstood as someone else points out) advice. Talk to the teacher, tell him you think the breath holding thing is bad, and help the child by showing him the correct way to improve. If after a legitimate attempt to improve there is still a breathing issue, then start thinking about talking to a doctor. Jumping to asthma at this point is like assuming that every time you have the sniffles you should get a meningitis test.

Nearly everyone gets out of breath when they first start trying to run any distance, this is becasue nearly everyone tries to run too fast. The speed at which you should start distance training is always slower than seems reasonable.