Kotsu Kotsu

"Which is stronger: breathing in or breathing out?" Most of us don't think much about our breathing, but if you do, you may realize that most of us naturally exhale (breathe out) when we do something requiring physical effort. Just try lifting one end of a heavy couch: we naturally breathe out as we lift. And try again while you're breathing in: not so easy! So, it's not surprising that in fitness training, in yoga, in martial arts, the emphasis is usually on the exhalation for any movement that requires physical effort. As for the inhalation: in most martial arts, the opponent's inhalation is considered to be a weak point - something you can seek out and exploit. In the practice of Kokikai Aikido , too, I've always thought of the in-breath as a weak point. Sensei has said that we shouldn't make our breathing obvious, lest our opponents use it against us. The Strength of the In-Breath But inhalation can be strong as well. Consider t...

Recently I took a few violin classes with Patrick Ourceau . Most of our time was spent learning bowing. When I first took up the violin I soon learned that the way you use the bow is the way you bring out the soul of the instrument, and bowing techniques are very distinct in different styles of music. Good bowing requires a really delicate touch, and a lot of practice. Actually I think if I had known how daunting the bowing aspect would be, I might have been frightened off. Patrick talked about bowing and musical phrasing in relation to breathing: up-bowing is like breathing in, and down-bowing is like breathing out, a release. He talked about the down-bow being extremely relaxed, letting gravity draw the arm and the bow downward. Making your bow strokes with minimum effort brings out the best sound, and allows you to play in a more relaxed way, so you can play for hours without getting tired. In a recent aikido seminar with Shuji Maruyama Sensei we practiced a sword exercise f...

A friend wrote to me that she was having anxiety problems, and that her husband is having difficulty sleeping. "Aren't you both still practicing yoga?" I asked. "The breathing is usually really great for stress and sleep problems." "Oh, yes, we both still go regularly, but more for the stretching and flexibility and less for the breathing." Two weeks previously I had attended a yoga class at a community center, and I believe I heard the words "inhale," or "exhale," approximately four times in an hour. When I tell people about the benefits of yoga and they take a class that doesn't emphasize breathing, I feel like I recommended a great restaurant and they ended up in the fast food place next door. Yoga taught without incorporating breathing is like eating food without nutrition. It may make you feel good but ultimately it doesn't sustain you. I understand. The benefits of any practice are highly dependent on the teac...

Julie Andrews' recipe for difficult times is to think of her favorite things . You may prefer to listen to Coltrane's version of the tune. But the most powerful way to alter your mood when you're anxious, frantic, worried, sleepless, angry or generally out of control is to alter your breathing. The next time you want to improve your mood, try slowing your breathing down, making your inhalations and exhalations as long and complete as you can without strain for, say, ten minutes. This simple alteration of your body, that you control, can change your mind. Its simple, free, and can be done by just about anyone, just about anywhere!