I used to really struggle with using airway clearance devices like flutter and acapella.

I found I got restless. I got bored. I got distracted.

I could go months or years without using certain types of airway clearance equipment, because I just didn’t get on with it. I used different methods that were less reliant on breathing into a device. While we don’t have the vest readily available in the UK, I can understand why people choose this passive airway clearance technique.

The thing is, I have come to realise, over years of doing different types of physical activity and different types of breathing exercise, that breath awareness and an active breath (versus passive) is far more effective.

I’m writing this because for the first time in years today, I decided to pick up my flutter and give it a go.

Why did I do this? And why did I find I was able to finally feel that I was able to do this effectively?

When doing core/ab workouts, I often felt like my breathing wasn’t controlled. I felt like I was breathing shallowly and erratically. Sometimes both. I felt like I was tense in places that I shouldn’t be tense. Especially in my shoulders and neck, which probably affected my breathing. I felt like I was rushing to get reps or to fill timed intervals. It was rare that I could actually feel the movement itself. Instead, I could only feel the discomfort of it.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? If so, the good news is that it can get better!