Monday, February 27, 2006

Take a Deep Breath!

Are you conscience of your breathing or are you like most of us and take breathing for granted and just breathe without thinking about it? Have you heard there is a correct way to breathe? These questions are to me not just to you. After reading books on Yoga, and Pilates on the Ball I began to consider how am I breathing. Is it deep or is it shallow breathing? While exercising on the Ball I am learning techniques for breathing into different parts of the body. I won't get into how to do the exercises but there are abdominal breathing, back breathing, and side breathing that I have begun to practice. I don't have the medical terminology but I do know when we inhale the good comes in and when we exhale the bad goes out. It is amazing that with breathing we release the body from tension and calm the conscious mind. Try this little exercise with me. Make sure no background noise is present inhale through the nose for a count of 4 then exhale through the mouth with pursed lips for a count of 4. Do this 3 times and let me know what you think.
12 Weeks to go!
Today is the start of my 12 week training program for the Cleveland Half Marathon Race.
I will be using the Hal Higdon Advanced Training Schedule. Of course I will modify it to squeeze swimming and biking in the schedule. Last year I used the Hal Higdon 10K schedule and was successful with it in the Cleveland 10K race.
Today's workout was a strength workout with the exercise ball followed with stretching.

2 comments:

qcmier said...

Having terrible lungs, I rarely take breathing forgranted. But I never thought about practicing my breathing. Hmm. Might try a little.

Good job with the indoor tri!!!

E-Speed said...

I really try to focus on breathing at certain times. I should probably be more aware of it during training.

I got some pilates DVDs and the instructor says that correct breathing is a priority but then she neglects to tell you how to breathe during most of the workout (aggravating!)

My problem with running is I am a mouth breather and can't reteach myself to breathe in through my nose.