"Please lay back on the couch, get relaxed, breathe slowly and deeply. Good....that's it....slooowly......deeeeply. Goooood. Now, i want you to remember the time we are going to talk about.....that time a little while ago...when you were younger. Remember now? Okay, keep breathing slowly.......gently.......relaxed.......Gooood. Remember that time, remember that place. Are there any colors you can associate with that time....any smells.....any sounds.....any feelings...any places....any moments come to mind? Continue to breathe slowly and be relaxed...sloooowly....now what can you tell me about that time? What do you remember???
While in these relaxed states, our brains can start to rehash and revisit past moments and memories. Some will be good, some will not. It's our past. But through this relaxed state of mind, and through slow breathing, we will be able to access many of them. Through practice and discipline, we can manipulate and control our breathing to be at any pace we want. Keeping it at the pace is a matter of consistent practice.
I eventually came to realize and understand that my body in some ways was naturally putting itself in this slower state of mind, constantly. Not that i wanted to be in it all the time, but from years of added weight through weightlifting, my upper torso is now very heavy, and it adds a lot of pressure to my lungs to inhale a deep breath of air. We've all seen heavy or obese people from time to time, gasping for air, having a hard time breathing. With all that added weight, it causes the person problems. If you noticed, many obese people have sleep apnea or issues with breathing disorders while sleeping. Their heavy weight lying against a mattress, along with the pressed mattress pushing back hard against their body, can make it difficult to get a full breath of air in, at least consistently, and while sleeping. Inturn, the body will not try as hard to inhale, and will learn to function off of less air. But this comes at a cost, a few infact. Not only can it put their health and life in danger, but with less air and slower breathing, their pulse will slow, slowing metabolism, and effecting the mind and the way it works as well.
Through awareness and discipline, i've been able to correct and work on areas of this where i've needed. However, where does this relate into the great sport of Airhockey, and with me???
Have you ever been playing the sport, and you find yourself in different states of mind where you feel faster than usual? Mentally perhaps? Physically? Better analytical wise? Worse analytically? Slower? Can't think? Can't react as well? Can see things better? Can't see things nearly as well as usual? Maybe you can ponder some of your best moments while performing, as well as your worst? What was going on with you? Any noticeable differences? Can you remember? Take some deep breaths...relax...be calm...try and remember....
More later, as i need to step away and get a breath of fresh air now... |
