Using the breath during stroke

[jrctherake]

Learning to breath the right way is no different than learning the right eye patterns etc...etc. You do it until it becomes "automatic".

I was taught "box breathing" while in the military.

Box breathing works wonders when done correctly.

Jeff

 

[garczar]

Learning to breath the right way is no different than learning the right eye patterns etc...etc. You do it until it becomes "automatic".

I was taught "box breathing" while in the military.

Box breathing works wonders when done correctly.

Jeff

BB is a great relaxation method. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321805#the-box-breathing-method

 

[Black-Balled]

I find it far more effective to aim and and execute accurately.

 

[garczar]

I find it far more effective to aim and and execute accurately.

Well, yeah. Some type of breathing technique is part of the execution and can really help settle you down.

 

[straightline]

That's always been my objective - a robot with feel.

pj
chgo

Humans seem to be unaware that they are in fact machines.

 

[David in FL]

That’s a pretty standard technique in just about any physical activity or sport. Whether you’re throwing a ball, weightlifting, playing golf, tennis, pool, etc... For the most part it tends to be pretty natural to inhale on the backswing/backstroke, and exhale on the forward or power stroke.

Just try to consciously reverse it sometime, and see how unnatural it feels…

 

[David in FL]

Humans seem to be unaware that they are in fact machines.

Yeah, but unfortunately that damn brain gets in the way too often!

 

[Hoser]

Sorry if this is too much info for some but the subject comes up often so....

Breathing is central to most-self regulation techniques. Breathing is the only part of the autonomic nervous system that is under voluntary control when we are conscious. There is a natural braking mechanism built into all mammals referred to in medicine as the respiratory sinus arrhythmia linked to the baroreceptor reflex. We send a message to other systems in the body via the vagus nerve including the cortex of the brain through the mechanics, rate and volume of respiration. So if you intentionally hyperventilate you will quickly feel the effect. This is seen as also seen as slowing of heart rate when you are relatively calm when you slowly exhale. The heart rate stays steady and we lose this reflex when you are too aroused as a survival mechanism. Some years back we discovered in a study of over 1000 experts in mind body control that when asked to create a state in which they were calm, centered and resilient to stress they all surprisingly brought and maintained the tempo of respiration to within a 1/2 second of 6 breaths per minute. Subsequent to this study It was concluded that this caused a resonance or amplification of this built in breaking reflex and with several months of daily practice you could actually strengthen the reflex. Although powerful, simple and useful to various disciplines, it is most widely used in sports psychology for many sports beyond the obvious such as shooting (or pool) and has positive effects on multiple networks beyond quieting, most interesting for pool is quieting self-talk or busy-mind. A recent user and proponent of this technique is Bryson Dechambeau. I would recommend that if you chose to incorporate this into your PSR, to practice when not playing to the level of not having to think about it and stroke during the 5 second exhale.

If you want to try it I use the app "Breathing Zone" and set the settings to voice: off sound: indian bansuri session length 10 minutes breathing rate: 6.0 start breathing rate: off breathing pattern: equal breath daily goal 20 minutes.

Try to use your diaphragm to breathe and find the right volume of air that feels comfortable but fit it into this tempo like music. If you get sleepy after a few minutes your probably dialed in. It's a temporary sleepy that goes away when you move around. you can also practice when going to sleep and if you fall asleep in the process the app will shut off in 10 min. enjoy