Use your breath to change your game

Breath work can help relieve symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and everyday worries. It can be used alone or it can be a complementary treatment with yoga and meditation.

Practising breathing can restore your sense of being, knowing what you feel and help you experience deep and meaningful connections with yourself and others. You can use your breath to help achieve peak performances in all aspects of life, including home, work, school, creativity, artistic activities and athletics.

What does it take to be the best one can be or to do the best one can do? Whatever your goals are, focusing your efforts and harmonizing your mind, body and spirit will help achieve your performance. When you focus on being the best you can be with your strengths and your weaknesses, you are putting the onus on you. Just wanting and trying are not enough.

If you have honestly and consistently tried to reach a particular goal but still feel that you are not doing the best you can do, it is possible that something is holding you back.

Breath practices can relieve the anxiety and tension that interfere with performance in any area of life. Breathing promotes better integration of the mind, body and spirit. It helps with the flow and optimizing physical movements to conserve energy and to reduce wear and tear on joints, muscles and tendons. Regular practice of breathing helps to improve circulation, oxygenation and endurance.

I recently took up the game of golf (a.k.a. a game of nerves). I always remind the ladies in the group not to watch me, as that makes me nervous and then I can’t hit the ball.

Golf requires intense mental concentration and simultaneous physical relaxation to perform smooth, powerful and accurate strokes. Too much anxiety and the golfer will tense up, throwing off the swing or not hitting the ball at all.

I find that when I remember to keep my head down and just concentrate on my breath, I am focused, relaxed and the tension leaves my body, allowing me to have a successful swing and make contact with the ball.

Pam A. Lowe is a certified kriplau yoga teacher living in Kentville. She is also a CPT-CSEP. Her hobbies include triathlons, painting and, of course, yoga.