People can probably survive a week without eating, although they would weaken.
If a person doesn’t breathe for 5 minutes, they can’t survive.
(Certainly, even Jacques Mayol from “The Big Blue” managed only 3 minutes 40 seconds, didn’t he?)
When I started riding horses, instructors often told me not to hold my breath.
You’re like a statue. Look far ahead, they would say. (How far should I look?)
When I started learning tea ceremony, the teacher of the tea ceremony told me not to hold my breath.
Your serving will become stiff.
If you serve tea stiffly, the tea becomes less delicious, and
It also makes the guests tense. (How can I stop being nervous?)
Even when painting in the studio, the instructor told me,
Don't stop breathing, look farther. (Don’t think with your head, look at the motif.)
Don’t stop breathing. Look far. Feel the universe.
After being instructed so much, I wonder, what is breathing?
I think I seriously have to learn breathing techniques, and have been instructed by Mr. K about breathing for over a year now.
And, the other day, I could understand very well the instructor’s words “Tighten your lower abdomen.”
I’m starting to understand a bit that when energy fills the lower abdomen, tension is released.
Because the body becomes relaxed, probably my upper body is also relaxed while riding.
Therefore, tightening the lower abdomen means exhaling through my nose.
Exhale downwards.
It’s quite difficult, but once you can do this, just by exhaling you can stop the horse. (I think this is the case with trained horses...)
Learning breathing techniques, my "awareness" has improved.
I deeply feel that this is certainly true lately.