Denver, Colorado is 5,276 feet above sea level, hence the nickname “Mile High City.” 

The altitude there has been credited and blamed for the effects it has on unaware or unprepared visitors from lower elevations. People feel the effects of lower air pressure and decreased oxygen when they arrive; the same goes for visiting athletes. 

Sure, they’re better conditioned than Joe or Jane Average, but they’re drawing more on the thin air in their competitive exertions. Many, if they’re honest, have stories to tell about needing rather quickly to find their second wind and taking a few days to acclimate enough that their performances don’t suffer.

Such teams as the Nuggets, Avalanche, Broncos, and Rockies actually employ marketing schemes to plant seeds doubt in visiting teams, amplifying the disadvantages posed to those athletes who are not properly altitude trained. For example, at Ball Arena, there is signage where visiting teams enter and exit noting the city’s altitude. The numbers 5,280 are printed right on the court, near each free-throw line. The video board during introductions welcomes the road team with an ominous warning about the difficulty in catching one’s breath. Then, there are large, hazard-orange-and-black placards on display (“Attention: Altitude Warning/Low Oxygen”).

In fact, the intimidating marketing is right there in the name ... "Empower Field" at "Mile High Stadium"!

In response, we often see oxygen tanks used on the visiting teams’ sidelines to help them try to catch their breath.

There is a whole school of athletic training based on high-altitude workouts. Olympic athletes routinely seek out facilities in Denver and Colorado Springs to boost their oxygen efficiency, and countless trainers and gyms simulate the effects with dedicated breathing equipment.

Your tongue is much more than just an instrument for speech or eating, prompting some to ask:

Have you ever thought about how your tongue could be affecting your posture even all the way down to your feet?

What if something as simple as where your tongue rests in your mouth could influence your body’s alignment, balance, and even breathing?

The tongue is more than just a muscle for speaking and eating, it’s deeply connected to the body through fascia, an intricate web of connective tissue that links the tongue to the feet.

It's true. An internet query of a growing body of research reveals that the position of your tongue can influence your posture, balance, breathing, and even facial structure. Here's some of the ways tongue posture can affect your overall health:

POSTURE

- Muscle Tension: Your tongue is connected to muscles in your jaw, neck, and even your shoulders. Poor tongue posture (e.g., pressing against your teeth or lying flat at the bottom of your mouth) can create tension in these areas, leading to misalignment like slouched shoulders or forward head posture.

- Spinal Alignment: When your tongue rests properly — on the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth — it helps stabilize the head and neck, which supports better spinal posture.

BALANCE

- Proprioception Boost: Proper tongue posture may enhance proprioception — your body's ability to sense its position in space. This can improve balance and stability, especially in people with vestibular disorders.

- Sensory Substitution: The tongue can deliver balance-related signals to the brain, directly affect equilibrium.

BREATHING

- Airway Support: A tongue resting low in the mouth can block the airway, leading to shallow breathing. Proper tongue posture opens the airway, encouraging nasal breathing and better oxygen intake.

FACIAL STRUCTURE

Palate Development: Especially in children and young adults, resting the tongue against the roof of the mouth helps shape the palate and support facial symmetry. Poor posture can lead to a narrower palate and less prominent cheekbones over time.

So, much research has been done, supporting the theory that the tongue is much more key to the body's overall health than previously realized, again prompting some to ask, 

"Could improving tongue posture be the missing key to better posture, core strength, and overall movement efficiency?"

*Click here to watch a video on proper tongue posture. 

Yes, it's true. In fact, they can actually hold their breath up to 45 minutes at a time. 

Believe it or not, yes! Sloths can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, while dolphins typically last around 10 to 15 minutes before surfacing for air. Sloths have an incredibly slow metabolism, which allows them to reduce their heart rate and conserve oxygen when submerged. Meanwhile, dolphins, as mammals, need to breathe frequently despite their aquatic lifestyle.

The reason these land-dwelling, super submersibles are so adept at breath holding is due to some unique physiological characteristics:

Their secret lies in their low metabolic rate and unique respiratory control:

Slow Metabolism: Sloths burn energy at an incredibly slow rate, which means their bodies require less oxygen than most mammals. This allows them to hold their breath much longer without experiencing distress.

Bradycardia (Reduced Heart Rate): When submerged, sloths can slow their heart rate by up to one-third, significantly reducing their oxygen demand. This trick is common in diving animals like seals but is unusual for a land-dwelling creature.

Efficient Oxygen Storage: Sloths have a high concentration of myoglobin in their muscles, which helps store oxygen for prolonged periods. This trait is typically seen in deep-diving marine mammals like whales and dolphins.

Minimal Movement: Their famously slow and deliberate movements mean they don’t burn oxygen rapidly, further extending their ability to function without fresh air.

All of these adaptations make sloths surprisingly well-equipped for survival—even underwater!