Yesterday, despite the heat, I took a valuable riding lesson and felt content. (Mr. R is a fantastic instructor.)
Now, the day after, if I don't maintain my body, I won't be able to get through this week.
Breathing, I thought at first, is something everyone does as long as they're alive, so it must be simple. How naive I was.
I thought that horse riding, which involves merely straddling a horse, would be simple unless you had particularly stiff hips.
How foolish I was.
I believed that tea ceremony, simply enjoying matcha, would be easy unless you had an allergy to matcha. How ignorant I was.
"Breathing", "Horse riding", "Tea Ceremony", or any other sports or arts are not so easily mastered. Truly understanding this requires a
great deal of time and experience. Ideally twice a week, or every day if possible, continuing patiently for many years, you start to feel like you understand. I think that in itself is significant progress.
Now, in my case, I have a routine for maintenance. After loosening my entire body with lymphatic and aromatherapy massages, I always
practice diaphragmatic breathing, lowering my energy to my abdomen.
I recently attended a seminar on the "Secret Method of Introspection" (a type of breathing technique).
In the language of the "Secret Method of Introspection", when you lay on your side and say "Qikai Tanden", the words sink into your lower
abdomen. When you say "Youkyakusokushin", your consciousness descends to your lower back, legs, and soles of your feet. This is used
to improve the flow of "Qi" and to relax. For a while, concentrate and continue saying it!
Try it, thinking you may be fooled. After relaxing, look at your own face in the mirror. You should discover a face that's different from usual.