Part of my recovery plan includes adequate sleep and nutrition – but as essential as these are, they are not enough. I can increase sleep as well as the nutrition I take in and still not be recovered.
But as soon as I engage in something light, something flowing, something with deep breathing in it, something that isn’t working my muscles to the point of failure, I begin to feel stronger and more energetic. As soon as I become aware of how I inhale, exhale and use my imagination, everything shifts.
I’ve attended sports conferences and seminars where the subject of deep breathing is “covered” by a coach in 30 seconds or less. These coaches unknowingly revealed to me that they knew next-to-nothing about the power of deep breathing and how it helps athletes improve their performance.
I look at deep breathing this way…
Deep breathing is something you do when you train, as part of every repetition of every exercise.
Deep breathing is something you do when you’re resting between sets or after the workout, so you can recover faster.
Deep breathing is what you do to relax and unwind your mind, to cool off internally and rebalance your system.
Years ago, when I first began working on becoming more flexible, I uncovered how deep breathing gave me more freedom of movement.
Stretches that I was previously stuck in, lengthened on their own as I learned to relax and breathe life into various parts of the body.
I’ll always remember the day I was in a martial arts class with a dozen other students. As I was sitting on the floor with my legs spread in a V, I tried to lean forward but, per usual, it appeared there was nowhere for me to go.
I was stuck.
Then the magic happened.
As soon as I figured out the where and the how on directing the breath, my chest came forward about a foot. I repeated this same style of inhale and exhale, and the next thing I knew my chest was on the ground in a pancake position.
At this moment I knew I had something, so I began testing it with my students. The results they got inspired me further.
And all of this lead to me coming out with my Combat Stretching DVDs.
This incredible program not only helps you gain greater flexibility, it helps you recover because you’re doing far more than just stretching. You’re rebalancing and rebooting your system with the power of deep breathing.
Stretching, in and of itself, can help you recover faster. But stretching and the deep breathing I teach in Combat Stretching take you even further. A lot further.
Breathe Deep and Stretch Yourself.
Here endeth the lesson.
Matt Furey
P.S. If you’ve ever thought about becoming a well-paid email copywriter, or an information publisher, i.e. published author, and you want to know how I’ve done it, then I suggest you dive into my Zen Mastery program – and get yourself going.
