QUESTION: When I use the Relaxator, I breathe out through my mouth, but you say we should breathe through our nose.ANSWER: Indeed, relaxed breathing is in and out through the nose. The mouth is for eating and talking, while the nose is for breathing.When we do breath training with the Relaxator, however, the exhalation, obviously, goes through the mouth. We should view the Relaxator training as if we are at a training arena and aiming at creating better breathing habits both during the training itself as well as afterward.The benefit of training with a Relaxator, which provides resistance when exhaling, is really great as it provides breathing that is rhythmic, relaxed, low, slow, and reduced in volume, with increased pressure in the lungs and sinuses and an extended exhalation. We also exercise the breathing muscles, like the diaphragm and the muscles of the neck.These benefits outweigh the disadvantages of exhaling through the mouth. When we stop exercising with the Relaxator, we step out of the training arena and breathe in and out through the nose again. In the best of worlds, we would have had the Relaxator in our noses so that we could breathe in and out through the nose even during resistance breathing. But whether or not we would have wanted to wear something like that in our nose is another question…?

QUESTION: When I use the Relaxator, I get dizzy.ANSWER: If you get dizzy, it may indicate that you have the Relaxator set to a resistance level that is too high. When we are all pumped up, it is common for us to increase our breathing more than is called for. We hyperventilate, which increases the outflow of carbon dioxide.Carbon dioxide is constantly produced in the body and leaves the body upon exhalation. It is the CO2 pressure that controls the breathing, and during stress or hyperventilation, the respiratory center is reset so that your body’s ability to tolerate carbon dioxide decreases, i.e. the carbon dioxide pressure drops.If you have the Relaxator set to a high number (high resistance), the CO2 builds up too quickly, and you may get dizzy and feel faint. It is your body trying to make you stop doing what you are doing, i.e. it wants you to breathe in a way that causes the CO2 pressure to be kept at the level your breathing center is set to. It is not wrong to challenge ourselves as it makes us aware of where our limits are. Many of us are, however, very competitive, which may cause us to run over our bodies, which we may become aware of when doing a breathing exercise. What the Relaxator helps you with is to increase your ability to tolerate carbon dioxide, and thus, be able to breathe more slowly. But the key is to take it at a rate you can handle. Here is an article that highlights how the carbon dioxide pressure affects our health.

Question: Can you explain how blowing in the Relaxator can, in some people, increase the level of carbon dioxide and in people with, for example, COPD or pulmonary emphysema, reduce the level of it, as these people retain too much carbon dioxide?Answer: Many of us breathe in a way that exceeds the needs of our body, which is essentially a low-grade form of hyperventilation. The big problem with hyperventilation is that we get an imbalance between oxygen and carbon dioxide: we get too much oxygen and too little carbon dioxide. More information on the disadvantages of a low carbon dioxide pressure can be found in this article: “Carbon dioxide pressure more important than blood pressure”.When we breathe in using the Relaxator, the purpose is, among others, to calm down our breathing and breathe more slowly. Slower breathing will reduce hyperventilation. In other words, the amount of air we breathe in and out per minute or hour will decrease. By slowing breathing, we will retain more carbon dioxide in our bodies, which will lead to increased carbon dioxide pressure.If you have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or pulmonary emphysema, parts of your lungs are destroyed due to the collapse of alveoli (pulmonary vesicles responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream). It then becomes difficult to fully exhale air, and as a result, your lungs and air passages will retain some of the carbon dioxide.If the person with COPD or pulmonary emphysema exhales through a Relaxator or some similar device that increases resistance upon exhalation, the pressure in the person’s lungs will increase. The increased pressure will cause the alveoli that have collapsed, to widen, which means that the carbon dioxide can be extracted from the blood so balance can be restored. To sum it all up, Relaxator training will help in restoring optimal carbon dioxide pressure both during over-breathing (where carbon dioxide pressure is too low) and COPD or pulmonary emphysema (where carbon dioxide pressure is too high).

Question: How do I use the Relaxator and how long shall I use it?Answer: Apart from making you breathing more rhythmic, slow and relaxed, using the Relaxator also stimulates your diaphragm so that the air ends up in the midriff, or in other words – in the lower part of your lungs. Set the resistance of your choice Set the resistance of your choice by turning the Relaxator mouthpiece to adjust the vent. There are five levels of resistance: the smaller the opening, the greater the resistance. Five is the heaviest resistance and one is the lightest. Please note that there is no competition in having the smallest hole open. The aim is for you to achieve a low, relaxed and rhythmical breathing, while the breathing volume is reduced, so it is recommended that you increase the resistance slowly and gradually to make sure your breathing stays relaxed. Bring the Relaxator to your mouth Bring the Relaxator to your mouth. Let it rest gently between the lips for greatest relaxation. If possible, refrain from biting it with your teeth as this will cause your jaw to tense up, increasing the amount of saliva produced. Exhale through the Relaxator Exhale slowly and calmly through the mouth/Relaxator. At exhalation, your abdomen and the lower part of your chest should slowly contract while the upper part of your chest and shoulders remain more or less still. On exhalation think «air up, midriff contract». Note! The main focus when using the Relaxator is on the exhale, as the inhale will automatically be as it is supposed to (low, midriff) when the exhalation is extended. Inhale through your nose Inhale calmly through your nose — just let the air in. At inhalation, the air passes into your abdominal area causing your abdomen to expand, while the upper part of your chest and shoulders remain more or less still. The lower part of your rib cage will expand a little in all directions. On inhalation think «air down, midriff expand to the sides». Use the Relaxator for fifteen minutes 1-2 times per day Using the Relaxator for fifteen minutes once or twice a day gives good results. There is no limit to how long time it may be used at any time. Some people opt to use it for 1–2 hours a day. An optimal respiration of 6–12 breaths per minute with 0.5 liters of air per breath is achieved when the resistance is set to 3–4. Endeavor to maintain relaxed, non-strained breathing when you use the Relaxator Endeavor to maintain relaxed, non-strained breathing when you use the Relaxator. There is no need to push yourself too hard in order to achieve results. Note how you breathe after having used the Relaxator. If your breathing is relaxed, rhythmic, low, slow and small, the Relaxator is set to a suitable resistance. The above are general guidelines. It varies per individual how long you shall use the Relaxator and at what resistance level. Listen to your body, your thoughts, and your emotions and let them guide you. The key is relaxation. It is probably better to increase the time that you use the Relaxator over focusing on increasing the resistance.

Question: I have tried using the Relaxator, but even though I try not to bite into it and just have it between my lips I get a lot of saliva in my mouth. That is why it is hard for me to use it.Answer: The reasons for experiencing problems with saliva when using a Relaxator are often due to one of the following causes:Tensed jaws. Your jaws may become tense when using a Relaxator, which will increase saliva production. If possible, it is optimal for you to hold the Relaxator between your lips, as this will provide increased relaxation compared to when you bite into it with your teeth.Increased relaxation. If you are using a Relaxator, there will be increased activity in the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system (the part of the nervous system that handles heartbeat, breathing, digestion, etc. without us having to think about it). In English, the parasympathetic system is called the rest and digest system. When we relax, the body may, thus, think it is time to eat and, as a result, secrete more saliva. And the fact that we put a Relaxator in our mouths can contribute even more to make the body think food will soon come.Difficulty swallowing at the same time. The technique for swallowing while having a Relaxator in your mouth has to be learned, but you will usually figure it out after having used the Relaxator for a while.Saliva is a way to get rid of waste products. One reason for more saliva is that your body becomes better balanced by the breathing training, and then the ability to rid yourself of waste products will increase. Normally, we have four ways to get rid of waste products: urine, feces, sweat and exhalation. When these are not enough, our bodies use saliva as a backup system.Overuse at first. If we immediately start training with the Relaxator for several hours a day with a very small opening to create high resistance, and it is hard to exhale the air, it is conceivable that we may overuse the Relaxator and will need to both reduce the time we use it and open up the Relaxator a little more so that it is easier to exhale through it.If the hole on the Relaxator is pointed downward. According to my experience, it is better if the breathing hole is pointing upwards in case of saliva problems. My advice is to hang in and continue training with the Relaxator, as the problems usually are transient and the saliva will decrease after having used the Relaxator for a while. Another option is to take a break or work out with the Relaxator for a shorter time or with a lower resistance if you find the saliva to be a problem.

QUESTION: If a person with COPD uses the Relaxator regularly, can the lung sacs (the alveoli) be slowly repaired? Or are they destroyed forever?ANSWER: This is undoubtedly an interesting question, and I do not actually know if it is possible to repair the damaged lung tissue or not. But several people with the diagnosis of COPD have, at least, received increased lung capacity after they started training with the Relaxator.One example is Axel, 87 years old, who was diagnosed COPD. Axel has smoked since he was 17, and he improved his lung function even though he continued to smoke.Another example is JD Dunphy whose lung function improved by 10% after three weeks of breathing retraining. JD has, however, not been diagnosed with COPD.

QUESTION: When I use the Relaxator, I start yawning. Why is that?ANSWER: The three most common reasons for yawning when breathing retraining with the Relaxator are: Fatigue. That we are yawning may be a sign that we are tired. When we exercise with the Relaxator, the body becomes more in balance and then tells us what our natural state is. If it is true that we are actually tired and need to sleep, then the Relaxator training can make us start yawning. Shallow breathing. If we have a shallow breathing, it causes tense muscles in the neck, shoulders, back and neck. The shallow breathing causes these muscles to take on a greater share of the muscle work required to move the air in and out.It is normally the main task of the diaphragm to move the air in and out as we breathe. Since the muscles of the neck, shoulders, back and neck are not designed to be constantly active, they become overworked, worn-out and tense. If the neck muscles, which continue up into the head, are tense, it may cause tension in the jaw. When we yawn, it is a way to try to reduce tension in the jaw. General stress and pressure in everyday life may also cause us to clench out teeth and strain our jaws. Gritting your teeth at night is a sign of stress and tense jaws. Hyperventilation. Yawning can also indicate that the Relaxator is set to a resistance level that is too high. When we are all pumped up, it is common for us to increase our breathing more than is called for. We hyperventilate, which increases the outflow of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is constantly produced in the body and leaves the body upon exhalation. It is the carbon dioxide pressure that controls breathing. During stress or hyperventilation, the respiratory center is reset so that your body’s ability to tolerate carbon dioxide decreases, i.e. the carbon dioxide pressure drops. When you have the Relaxator set to a high number (high resistance), the carbon dioxide builds up too quickly, and you are forced to take big breaths after a while, for example by yawning, to extract the carbon dioxide so that the carbon dioxide pressure is kept at the level that the breathing center is set to. It is roughly as if you were to start exercising at a very poor fitness level. You do not start by running ten kilometers but maybe by walking one kilometer, and then you must gradually work your way up to an even better fitness. What the Relaxator helps you do is increase your ability to tolerate carbon dioxide and, thus, be able to breathe more slowly, but the key is to take it at a rate your body can handle. Here is an article that highlights how carbon dioxide pressure affects our health. 

QUESTION: How should the Relaxator be placed in the mouth? I have it between the lips but feel that it is tough to tighten the jaws.ANSWER: When we bite into the Relaxator with our teeth, we increase the risk of getting a tense jaw. So the absolutely best choice is to hold the Relaxator with your lips.One reason why it may be perceived as difficult to hold it with our lips is if we have a habit keeping our mouths open, for example, if we talk a lot, stress a lot etc.When our mouth is open often, our lip muscles may be weakened and need to be exercised. When we have our mouth closed, we activate our lip muscles. So if we have the bad habit of keeping our mouth open, our weakened lip muscles may make it seem difficult to hold the Relaxator with our lips, and we may experience tension in the lips and jaw as well as increased saliva production.These problems are, however, usually transient and disappear as you practice with the Relaxator, train your lips and become more and more relaxed.Maybe you need to practice with a lighter resistance. A common reason why we do not really become friends with the Relaxator is that we have the resistance set too high (the opening for air flow is too small). The fact is, the Relaxator produces an effect even if you have it set to a lower resistance. Start small and build up, just like you would with any exercise.

QUESTION: What is the best way to clean my Relaxator?ANSWER: Here are some tips on how to clean the Relaxator: Soak the Relaxator in lukewarm water with some detergent. Flush the Relaxator below the water tap with some hot water. Put on some colloidal silver or some other cleansing agent. You can take the Relaxator apart from time to time and clean it with a cotton swab. To disassemble the Relaxator, remove the back cover from the nozzle. NOTE! Usually, it is possible to keep the Relaxator clean without taking it apart. Place the Relaxator in a glass of lukewarm water with half a teaspoon of bicarbonate for 15 minutes. See the study below on pesticides, where bicarbonate was more effective than Clorox. After 15 minutes in bicarbonate, almost all the pesticide was neutralized.

QUESTION: Sometimes when I am completing a task, I am stressed by the pressure of time restrictions and find it difficult to concentrate. Can the Relaxator help me concentrate better?ANSWER: When I have a lot to do at work, I usually use my Relaxator. I usually feel I’m becoming a bit like a machine when I put it in my mouth. It helps me to continue my task for a long time, and I feel present, focused and without stress.But sometimes you need a reminder of how effective it is, which I got this morning when I began the process of counting my stock of Relaxators, about 6.000 in total. It is quite a lot of counting, so some stress may easily sneak in and make it difficult to maintain full concentration for all that time.When I counted the last 1.500 Relaxators, I used my own Relaxator, and the difference was significant! I counted faster and was less stressed, more focused and more present. Overall, it was a much more pleasant experience. Really cool, actually!?So if you have a job where you need to concentrate, or if you have children who study and want to increase their ability to learn, I can highly recommend the Relaxator.Here are a couple of articles from Guteskolan (the Gute school) in Visby and Globenskolan (the Globen school) in Alingsås, where the students have been improving their breathing with the Relaxator for four weeks. Many students feel that it has helped them to concentrate better. All students wanted to use the Relaxator during national exams Breathing retraining in school increases concentration, reduces worry and stress

QUESTION: I try to live and eat as non-toxic as possible. Because of that, I wonder what kind of plastic the Relaxator is made of. ANSWER: The Relaxator is developed and manufactured in Sweden from recyclable ABS plastic and contains no phthalates or bisphenol A (BPAs). Both paint and plastic are food grade approved.

QUESTION: I get a headache when I do physical activity with my mouth closed and when I work out with the Relaxator set to a high resistance (hard to exhale). ANSWER: This headache often occurs in the frontal lobe, and the main reason is likely due to increased pressure in the nasal cavities and sinuses. This kind of headache is usually transient and decreases and disappears as your body gets used to the Relaxator. It also usually disappears if you a) decrease the intensity during your workout, b) decrease the prolonged exhalation so that the pressure in the sinuses decreases, or c) decrease the resistance of the Relaxator so that it is easier to exhale through it.

QUESTION: I wonder if the Relaxator can be helpful when I have a cough.ANSWER: Yes, it is conceivable that the Relaxator may be helpful if you have a cough. If you have a cough, the respiratory passages are narrowed, thus, your breathing becomes shallower. Narrow respiratory passages make it more difficult for air to reach the lower parts of your lungs, causing residue, particles, and old air to become trapped. Then, you are forced to cough to get rid of the particles and residue.To get the particles up, more mucus may also be formed and may cause your cough to become “gunky.” When you breathe low, with the diaphragm, the air reaches down to the lower parts of your lungs and brings up residue to be eliminated as you exhale.If there is a lot of gunk in your lungs due to prolonged superficial breathing, you may start coughing as a way to help get the many particles out. It is much like a smoking cough, as smoking over time causes many particles to accumulate in the lungs and the smoker has to cough to try to get them out.With the Relaxator, which provides a resistance when exhaling, the circulation in the lungs is improved, and the coughing can be reduced as particles and residue come out naturally with the exhalation air, so the backup function in the form of a cough is not needed. This is what one woman said: “The Relaxator is the best “cough drop” available! When you feel you are about to start coughing, break the reflex immediately by starting to use the Relaxator.” Another woman said: “Now that I have been affected by a virus and have attacks of dry cough, I breathe with my Relaxator, and then the coughing stops immediately.”

QUESTION: Do you know anyone who has given birth and used the Relaxator?ANSWER: Yes, several women have used the Relaxator when giving birth and have reported being very happy with doing so! They have experienced the Relaxator as a “faithful friend” to lean on during the toughest moments when it has been difficult to maintain a good breath.Especially between the contractions, good breathing allows for faster recovery. This article addresses the close relationship between breathing and pain: Your breathing – a powerful tool for pain relief.From the article:Fear causes us to feel tense and hold our breath, and we can all recognize ourselves in the reaction, “Phew, now the danger is over, now I can relax and exhale,” and then we let out the air with a sigh. One term used in conjunction with childbirth is the “fear-tension-pain” cycle. The woman who is about to give birth may have fears about the delivery as well as the discomfort she is experiencing, and she may become tense.Tension in the body causes pain to increase, which causes even more fear and tension rises further. Thus, a vicious cycle is established. In the case of tension and fear, breathing changes as the inherited reaction are to hold the breath in order to wake up the body or to breathe higher up in the chest to “escape” from unpleasant emotions, often located in the stomach area. With our breathing, we can either intensify or reduce pain. If we tense up, the pain increases. By applying Conscious Breathing, the body relaxes and the pain can decrease. Try it yourself. The next time you experience pain, start breathing slowly, rhythmically, low and small, and note how the pain subsides.