| Stress and tension are two of the main causes of | | | | pressure, and find it hard to keep your head, your |
| a lot of physical, mental and emotional problems | | | | start to run out of energy a lot quicker. It's |
| these days and much value and benefit can be | | | | probably because you're holding your breath, and |
| added to life by simply being able to relax | | | | not breathing means you're not getting enough |
| physically, mentally and emotionally. | | | | oxygen to your muscles, which is going to sap |
| Breathing is a primary way we relax ourselves, | | | | your strength in double time. |
| sighing being one of the most obvious ways we | | | | However, just as your physical or mental state |
| do this. | | | | can affect the breath, so can the breath affect |
| Try it now, breathe in... and sigh... | | | | the rest of your body. |
| It'll just feel right, because it's one of the body's | | | | Pregnant women are taught breathing techniques |
| own reflexive actions to help us relax. It shouldn't | | | | to handle the stress of childbirth. Soldiers in some |
| then come as a surprise that breathing affects us | | | | forces are taught to breath to cope with the |
| physiologically in many other ways. Our | | | | stress of combat. |
| physiological state can affect our breathing and | | | | It therefore follows then, that if you can focus on |
| vice versa. | | | | your breathing, and breathe in a more controlled |
| It's therefore no surprise that so many internal | | | | manner, you can influence your physiology and |
| arts and qigong forms emphasise correct | | | | start to control your stress responses. If we |
| breathing to enable the body to heal itself. | | | | focus on calming the breath, the body and mind |
| When you get startled by someone jumping out | | | | will follow. |
| from behind a tree shouting "Boo!", the first thing | | | | This is why breathing is important in Taijiquan. |
| you do is inhale sharply and hold your breath. The | | | | Breathing during Taijiquan practice is not to make |
| fleeting moment of anxiety manifests again as | | | | your Taijiquan better. Breathing during Taijiquan |
| tension, that in turn manifests in the breath. | | | | practice is breathing practice. |
| If you hold your breath, you will, by default hold | | | | Good breathing habits will make every part of our |
| tension in the body. Holding the breath is stressful, | | | | life better. |
| as keeping your breath static is an unnatural state | | | | The first thing it will do is enable you to cope |
| for the body to be in. Being stuck in that limbo | | | | more easily with tension and stress. |
| between breaths is stressful for the body, | | | | When your body gets used to breathing correctly, |
| because it's natural state is one of constant flux, | | | | it will remember that breathing habit and start to |
| constant change. We are always either breathing | | | | do that in your everyday life. That habit you |
| in or out. If you hold your breath for too long | | | | develop for your breathing will become your |
| you'll notice that your body will start to tense up. | | | | body's default breathing pattern, but more |
| If you are stressed and thinking about a difficult | | | | importantly when you hit some turbulence, your |
| problem or issue, you will probably at some point | | | | body will instinctively start to breathe more gently |
| hold your breath. If you work in an office, watch | | | | to relieve the pressure. |
| someone who's having a bad day. As they | | | | What you are doing is re-programming the body. |
| concentrate intently, they'll inhale and hold their | | | | You are re-educating the body to do what it used |
| breath whilst they're thinking, then instinctively | | | | to do naturally, that is breathe properly. Just as |
| exhale and sigh as if to try to relieve the stress. | | | | we can have bad postural habits, we can have |
| The mental tension will start to manifest itself | | | | bad breathing habits, and practise of Taijiquan with |
| physically by you holding your breath. | | | | the right breathing can really help us let go of |
| Martial artists that have done any sort of sparring | | | | these habits. |
| will know that when you are under a lot of | | | | And that, can only be a good thing. |