Peak Performance
Use Your Breath to Change Your Life
"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
— Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love
"We have shown you many of the ways that breath practices can be used to reduce the adverse effects of stress on your emotions and on your physical health. Breathwork can help relieve symptoms of everyday worry, anxiety, insomnia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or physical injury. It can be used alone or as a complementary treatment that fits seamlessly into any therapeutic plan without causing side effects. And beyond improving stress resilience, breath practices can restore your sense of being genuinely who you are, of knowing what you feel, of recognizing what others feel, and of being able to experience deep and meaningful connections with people, with your values, and with all that is.
"Breathing can be used for more than just healing injuries or solving problems. You can also enlist these techniques to help you achieve peak performance in all aspects of your life, including work, school, creative and artistic activities, and athletic performance.
Peak Performance through Breathing
"What does it take to be the best one can be or to do the best one can do? Whether your goals are academic, athletic, artistic, or interpersonal, focusing your efforts and harmonizing your mind, body, and spirit will elevate your performance. Notice that we are not talking about being better than everyone else or being the best in the world. We are focusing on being the best that you can be with both your strengths and your weaknesses. Everyone has talents, but just wanting and trying are not enough. If you have honestly and consistently tried to reach a particular goal but still feel that you are not doing the best that you can do, it is possible that something is holding you back.
"Breath practices can relieve the anxiety and tension that interfere with performance in any arena. They promote better integration of the mind, body, and emotions, enabling artistic expression to flow and optimizing physical movements to conserve energy and reduce wear and tear on joints, muscles, and tendons. And finally, the regular practice of Coherent Breathing or Resonant Breathing has been shown to improve circulation, oxygenation, and endurance.
Performance Anxiety
"One of the most common blocks to achievement is anxiety and the tension it causes. This is as obvious in sports as it is in the performing arts. The basketball player who tenses up at the last minute is unlikely to sink his shot. The musician whose arms and shoulders tighten up will deliver a stilted performance. Every student knows that test anxiety can make the mind go blank. Learning to dissolve anxiety by breathing slowly, smoothly, and evenly can go a long way toward improving performance in any field of endeavor.
"Disconnection or lack of integration can also impede performance. Smooth, efficient actions require awareness and coordination of the mind, emotions, and body that includes both the performer and the instrument or the athlete and the sports equipment. The skier must be one with the skis just as the pianist must be one with the piano."
