Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 16:05:23 +0100
From: Jan Lissens W 51737 <lissensj@access.bel.alcatel.be>
To: Ian Lloyd <ianlloyd@perth.igs.net>
Subject: Asthmatic Twisters

> Welcome to the world of Asthmatic Twisters...(Perhaps we should start a club
> or something)

I`ve found that practice improves matters, but I can only do a few balloons,
too. I therefor use pre-inflated balloons for inpromptu twisting or as
ow-you`re-cheating-stoppers. I did find that using a squeeze pump to put in a
starter bubble makes my breath last longer. I can do more balloons by mouth
that way.

To improve your lung capacity, you can use meditative techniques. To make use
of my full long capacity, I inhale for about 10 seconds, and exhale for about
15 (exhaling is more crucial for an asthmatic). Off course, you have to build
towards it. Once you mastered that without having coughing fits, the trick is
to practice exhaling the same amount of air in a few seconds.

Warning: let your doctor guide you with this. On top of my asthma, my longs
cannot handle great pressure. If I put too much pressure in them, something
happens which I cannot really explain, but which hurts like hell (according to
my doctor it`s too much pressure in the airsacks causing them to collapse or
something). Whenever I blow up a balloon, I have to make sure the air pressure
in the balloon does not go back into my lungs (okay, I`m lousy at explaining
this thing...a proper medic will probably have a better explanation). Anyway,
be careful and keep your medication with you when you`re twisting, but don`t
let a silly thing like asthma stop you from making the best of your twisting
skills.

Jan The Trekkie Twister