I just returned from the US Open Nine-Ball Championships which is the first tournament of my return to professional pool. There are many things that I used to take for granted when I was competing consistently all over the World. It seems that putting yourself in the right frame of mind is just as important as the physical practice and training you must do before a big event. I’ve spent some time lately just remembering what my routine was to get in to the “zone” that you hear some much about in top level sports. Martial arts routines are part of my personal preparation, and the most important part of this routine is something that anyone can do because it is consitrating of something that all of us do on a very regular basis. Breathing is a very interesting phenomina because you can think about your breathing (like you are right now) or you can go for a very long time without even giving your breathing any thought at all. I look at breathing as the “bridge” between the conscious and sub-conscious mind because just by bring attention to your breathing you can have an immediate effect on your mind. I want to share a simple breathing exercise that you can do to put yourself in a better frame of mind for competition or to just get yourself ready for a meeting or business speech you may be preparing.

First, get yourself in a comfortable positon where you can relax and clear your mind of whatever internal dialogue you have going on . Breath in through your nose and count to 6 (in seconds), then hold your breath to a count of 9 seconds and slowly exhale to a count of 12. You can start out doing this just 5 times and you will feel something happening mentally that should let you know that it is having a positive effect. Work your way up to doing this exercise 10 times and be sure to be aware of the positive effects (your brain waves will actually be lowering as you do this routine) and if you have any negative feelings you may want to check out your respiratory condition with your doctor. Breathing is a powerful force in your life, so take control of it and receive the benefits this natural process brings you and enjoy it it’s free.