Nose R.C. doesn't work for me.

I just had some very long and vivid dreams during a nap. At one point I was outside of this gym/ spa (lots of nude girls) and became convinced that every time I entered it I would be in the dream realm.

So.. I re-entered this area and did a nose R.C. (blocking off my nasal cavity) and was unable to breath through it. This was the most clear-headed dream I've had for a while so I then looked at my hand and my fingers were twisted together.

Basically, I've done so many nose R.C.'s the past few weeks that I think my mind is unable to imagine me breathing through my nose in this way. I'm not sure if I've done this reaity checks in dreams before with becomign Lucid because only now do I realize it doesn't work for me.

The short of it is, does anyone have similarly unobtrusive reality checks that can be done frequently (every time I encounter another person) without becoming distracting or noticeable? (putting my finger through my hand takes is too distracting at this frequency)

An RC doesn't need to be physical, just look around and ask yourself if your dreaming. If you do that in a dream you will most likely become lucid.

Exactly. I seldom actually do something to RC. Asking if you're dreaming is enough. Most of the time you'll find that your consciousness is operating differently, and you'll be critical of your surroundings. The most I'll do is read something twice.

Doing RCs isn't always reliable. Always do multiple RCs.

I once had the nose rc fail for me in a terrifyingly nightmarish FA, which was odd, since i had used the nose RC to become lucid in the dream preceding the FA. in the FA, I followed it with a finger-through-the-palm, and that one succeeded. One of my DC tormentors actually congratulated me on succeeding. (but was still menacing. wtf)

It is possible that your mind simply remembers all the time you were unable to breathe, and supplies that reality in your dream, or it is also possible that for some reason (mucous build-up, smothering yourself in your pillow) you were unable to breath in reality.

Still, i wouldn't give up on the nose RC, not because it is a superior technique or anything, but simply because one more RC can only aid in attaining lucidity.