Do you ever do this before you listen?


Hello everyone. I was at an audio store today with a friend that was auditioning a pair of speakers and the salesman told us to clear our ears by pinching the nose then blowing through your nose to make the ears pop (clearing them). I have to admit the music sounded  so much better lol. It makes perfect sense why you would want to do this, but I had just never thought of it. So I thought I would see who else is doing this, and maybe discover some other new tricks. SO what strange things do you do routinely before a listing session? (I know thats a loaded question to ask of this group)
barnettk
If you have normal eustachian tubes you don't need to do this.Middle ear pressure is equalizing to atmospheric frequently, like every time you swallow. And you don't even notice because the pressure differential is minimal. When you notice popping with equalization it probably means your eustachian tubes are dysfunctional, like if you have a cold or allergies. If you hold your nose and blow you will likely end up with positive pressure in your middle ear which would be just as bad as negative pressure. But if it works for you, who am I to say?

Or you can take a dose of cough syrup with guaifenesin, which seems to clear all of my sinuses, or doing simple stretches, the preferred method, by doing these two things: 1., stand straight with your back against a wall, turn head slowly left and right, repeat about 10 times, holding for a 3-5 second count at each turn. 2., Lay down on back on carpeted floor, extend arms fully on each side to fom a T, now, take one leg and place it over the opposite leg and extend as far as possible over that leg as if in a stretch, repeat with other leg, do at least 3 times, unless you have back issues, then be careful, monitor pain threshold first before doing, this causes an alignment and stretch of the body which stretches back and weirdly effects the upper eustachian passageways. After doing these two things, I feel that this has cleared my upper sinuses, while also stretching. These two stretches are from my Army days, when we did Physical Training at 0500. 
The NeilMed link that erik_squires posted is certainly on topic and very helpful. I’m surprised more people with sinus issues don’t use them. I do it once a day before bed (helps snoring too) and sometimes twice, if I have a cold or sinus inflammation. Sure it’s annoying at first and may be hard to get used to for some, but come on, we’re all jaded adults now and should be able to eat something we don’t like or get used to doing a neti. 
Many benefits from removing mucus which can halt or servesrly slow down mucus production (mucus makes more mucus), reduces swelling opening up the sinuses, which in turn all calms pressure. At least for me it does.