Take a Few Deep Breaths

 The life lesson for the weekend seemed to be this: relax and take a few deep breaths. Before we took off running across the sand dunes to launch ourselves into the air (or at least, attempt to launch ourselves) with an 80-pound kite strapped to our backs while hang gliding, our instructor always coached us to pause and take a few deep breaths. In what seemed like counter-intuitive advice, the instructors kept telling us that we had to be totally relaxed in order to really soar. If we were too tense, or if we gripped the bar of the glider too tightly, we quickly crashed into the sand. Just try to learn something new that requires you to remember 10 different things at once, and involves throwing yourself off the side of a mountain of sand, and staying completely relaxed at the same time! But it worked – if you took a few seconds to breathe, relax, and be aware of what your body was doing before you began, suddenly you found your feet lifting off the ground – which felt amazing for the few brief seconds it lasted! Gliding through the air was really incredible, especially since it took so much focus to make it happen.

Later on, back at our campsite we met a group of guys camping next to us who were spending the weekend spear fishing. Their idea of fun is to go way out into the middle of the ocean, jump into the water (which also contains barracuda, sharks, and sting rays), and shoot at big fish with a spear gun while holding their breath deep under the surface. Then, they wrestle their wounded pray to the surface and into the boat, often while it’s still fighting them. Will, the most experienced spear fisher of the bunch, said the key is being able to relax and hold your breath for a long time. According to him, the trick is to pause at the surface before going under, and take about 30 to 40 slow, deep breaths to get as much oxygen into your system as possible. This also helps you relax and focus before you dive down. If you just take one huge inhale and then go for it, you won’t last as long as if you take the time to relax and breathe deeply before you begin.

It seems funny that in both of these very different sports, the secret is not using your strength to power your way to the goal, but to take the time to pause, relax, and take a few deep breaths before you begin a difficult task. Several years ago when I first started going to yoga classes, I felt restless and thought it seemed like a waste of time. But the more I did it, the more my body responded. In yoga, breathing slowly and deeply with your movements is important. Now, when I finish a yoga class I feel more prepared to face whatever lies ahead. And I think my running has also improved, from taking time to stretch, relax and breathe. So, this week I’m going to think more about my breath. About taking time to prepare myself for whatever I’m about to do, before jumping in.