DIY: take air in, let air out

The art of breathing, pure

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"Breathing is something all humans do to live" may be a given, but most of us forget about breathing -- we just do it. And often badly. For example, when I'm working at the computer and concentrating on something, I forget to breathe.

For survival there's a 'Rule of Threes': you can last 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter in extreme conditions, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. There are variations, of course, but then this is a rule. Some have survived 8 to 10 days without water and we used to practice holding our breaths for 7 minutes. But rules are rules, right?

So why bother learning to breathe better? Because many disciplines teach that correct breathing is essential for success. Disciplines such as sports, music (especially singing), and yoga. Breathing is also touted as a way to relax and revitalize. I've put together a playlist that demonstrates some of the rationales and breathing techniques. At the end of the playlist is a lovely example of what music training can do.

Some webpages that talk about breathing are Time Magazine: "6 Breathing Exercises;" Sing Wise: "Correct Breathing and 'Support' for Singing;" Livestrong: "Sports Breathing Techniques;" and DoYogaWithMe: "Yoga Breathing Exercises – Pranayama Videos."

Here's a video you may enjoy that shows how musical training can be applied.

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-- Marge