A device for facilitating or enhancing proprioceptive feedback during breathing and related exercises includes a user attachment component attachable to a user about the thorax. Two elongate tensile members are connected at proximal ends to the user attachment component at points essentially just below the armpits of a user. These two elongate tensile members are connectable at their distal ends to the feet of the user. Another two tensile members are connected at their proximal ends to a back portion or strap of the harness and at their distal ends to or about the user's hands.

A respiratory device of negative pressure type comprising a shell fastened to the user's chest and/or abdomen with minimal dead space, one or more vacuum and compressed air chambers attached to the shell; vacuum generating and compressed air generating sources connected to the vacuum and compressed air chambers respectively, one or more openings on the shell to allow exchange of the air enclosed between shell and user's body, with the vacuum and compressed air chambers; a valve shuttling between the vacuum and compressed air chambers. By having low dead space, pre-generated vacuum and compressed air close to the user, and the use of fast acting valves in some embodiments, the power requirement, weight, and size are reduced, making the device low cost and portable. In some embodiments, the vacuum and compressed air generating sources can be mounted on the shell itself, making the device ambulatory.

A gas purifying and processing method for exercise environment is provided and includes steps: (a) providing a purification device for exercise environment in an exercise environment, wherein the purification device for exercise environment includes a main body, a purification unit, a gas guider and a gas detection module; (b) detecting a particle concentration of the suspended particles contained in the purified gas in real time by the gas detection module; and (c) detecting, issuing an alarm and/or notification, and notifying an exerciser to stop exercising, and feeding back to the purification device to adjust an airflow rate of the gas guider by the gas detection module, wherein the gas guider discharge a gas at the airflow rate within 3 minutes to reduce the particle concentration of the suspended particles to less than 0.75 μg/m.sup.3, wherein the airflow rate is at least 800 ft.sup.3/min, and the main body maintains a breathing distance ranged from 60 cm to 200 cm.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for dynamically adjusting a breathing entrainment based on whether a user is stressing or relaxing. According to an aspect, a first target breathing period is selected, and a guiding stimulus configured to alter a current breathing period of the user towards the first target breathing period over an interval of time is output. One or more relaxation biometrics are measured and analyzed to determine whether the user is stressing or relaxing. Based on whether the user is relaxing or stressing, at least one of the guided stimulus and the first target breathing period are adjusted, where the first target breathing period is adjusted to a second target breathing period different from the first target breathing period. By making adjustments based on whether a user is relaxing or stressing, the breathing entrainment is more effective and comfortable for users.

A respiration appliance (10) is configured to entrain the breathing of the subject. The breathing of the subject is entrained to modulate the autonomic nervous system of the subject to decrease sympathetic nerve activity and/or to reduce sympathetic/parasympathetic balance in order to provide relaxation to the subject. The respiration appliance (10) restricts the exhalation of the subject, while permitting substantially unencumbered inhalation, to impact the breathing of the subject in a manner that enhances relaxation.

A respiration appliance (10) is configured to entrain the breathing of the subject. The breathing of the subject is entrained to modulate the autonomic nervous system of the subject to decrease sympathetic nerve activity and/or to reduce sympathetic/parasympathetic balance in order to provide relaxation to the subject. The respiration appliance (10) restricts the exhalation of the subject, while permitting substantially unencumbered inhalation, to impact the breathing of the subject in a manner that enhances relaxation.

An oscillating positive expiratory pressure system including an oscillating positive expiratory pressure device, an adapter coupled to the device, and a control module coupled to the adapter. The control module provides real time information about the use of the device, and provides feedback and storage of the information to improve the use thereof.

Methods for improving respiratory effectiveness including inhaling a breath and, while continuously holding the breath, swimming for a period of at least 10 seconds without exhaling or further inhaling, and inhaling a breath and, without exhaling or further inhaling, adopting, and holding for a period of at least 3 seconds, at least one stretch position, which requires constant muscular exertion to maintain.

A cardiorespiratory fitness optimizer apparatus includes a mouthpiece and a valve assembly. The mouthpiece includes lower and upper tooth beds and an anterior manifold. The manifold terminates anteriorly at a centralized valve assembly interface and includes at least one air-letting aperture. The valve assembly is matable with the centralized valve assembly interface and includes an adjustable aperture. The user is able to adjust the aperture for increasing and decreasing airflow resistance therethrough for optimizing cardiorespiratory fitness. The cardiorespiratory fitness optimizer apparatus may include at least one sensor for sensing airflow activity within the valve assembly and communicating data relating to the airflow activity to an external device for displaying human readable output relating to the airflow activity upon the external device. The valve assembly is removable from the mouthpiece and replaceable with a plug element for maintaining anterior formations of the mouthpiece when the valve assembly is removed.

A breathing training device for a subject, the device including at least one feedback member positioned in contact with the subject's abdomen near the subject's diaphragm; and, an attachment member at least partially extending around the subject, wherein the attachment member and the feedback member cooperate to mechanically provide discrete tactile feedback to the subject when the abdomen reaches a predetermined level of expansion.