Deep Soft Stomach Breathing and Correct Breathing Procedure

[Dr Ray]

When I first published Tension Management and Relaxation in 1976,
focused on stress and tension management, I introduced a relaxation
exercise I called Relaxation Therapy. Relaxation Therapy includes a
diaphragmatic breathing procedure I refer to as Soft Stomach
Breathing. (other terms for the same procedure are abdominal
breathing, belly breathing, deep breathing, costal breathing)

Over many years, observing thousands of people participating in my
Freedom From Stress and Back Pain seminars, I learned how many people
simply do not know how to breathe correctly. Let's examine why this
is so important.

Correct breathing is one of the most important things you can do to
improve your health and your golf performance. WHY?

The answer is somewhat lengthy and we will cover this subject
thoroughly in future Posts. However, the simple answer for now is,
correct breathing brings an enhanced flow of OXYGEN to your body. Not
only is oxygen important to health and basic life functions, but
oxygen is also the life force of muscle tissue.

Long story short - enhanced oxygen flow leads to greater fluency of
muscle movement, while also healing strained and damaged muscle
tissues.

LET'S SEE IF YOU ARE BREATHING CORRECTLY! (The following is a quote
from my book, In The Zone: Making Winning Moments Your Way of Life
-1995 ):

To explore your breathing, sit with a straight, vertical back (as
opposed to a slumping position). Take a deep breath as you inhale
through your nose. Hold it.

Did you pull your stomach in, or did you push it out? NOW EXHALE.

A common response is, "I pulled my stomach in." This is not what you
want to do. When you pull your stomach in, you restrict space needed
by your lungs for full expansion. So, try another breath, only this
time, "push your stomach out" as you gradually inhale.

Slowly inhale through your nose to the count of four, pushing your
stomach out. Hold it briefly. Slowly exhale through your mouth to
the count of eight, and relax.

This is actually the way you breathe as you sleep. It is natural for
your stomach to slowly expand and then relax into a flat stomach
position. I call this SOFT STOMACH BREATHING.

Do three more deep Soft Stomach Breaths. Notice the feeling of
relaxation gradually settling over you. Your heart rate is slowing
down and becoming more rhythmic. Your blood pressure is decreasing.
You feel less pressured. You are reducing physical tension.

Soft Stomach Breathing is easy to do and can be done anytime during
your day. Take a few Soft Stomach Breaths now and then, especially
when you feel pressured and tense. (When they say to take a deep
breath while pressured during golf, you now know there is a correct
way and incorrect way of doing this - one works and the other does
not)

When you practice correct breathing, you are developing a life-giving
and Elite Performance habit.

Once again, we are focused on "fundamentals" of good health and Elite
Performance - on and off the course.

Dr. Ray