Ice Swimming

The auditorium was full of people, they all seemed calm and happy be there. “So our new hires, please come up front, introduce yourself and tell us something we will remember about you.”

There was no escape. I was just hired as a teacher for the district and I had to go up there. It would not be okay to fail at this, You know first impressions are critical. Teachers by definition can do stuff like this. I got super nervous. I stammered my name and what I was hired for, but I had nothing. I said I was really happy to be there. There seemed to be an audible groan from the crowd. I failed at my first opportunity to make progress on the job.

I wish I had known about breath work. A box breath practice would have helped me in this situation. Instead of experiencing brain fog due to stress, I would have been able to access any number of ideas that would have been available at the critical time I needed them.

Heart racing, queasy stomach, sweaty palms, a slight tremor that seems like every one can see; You have to present information or argue your position before an audience, stand up for yourself, or cope with any number of ordeals.

A very brief history

Breathing techniques, used for centuries by wise individuals including Sidhartha Gautama (also known as the Buddha) Ferriss (New York Times Best Selling Author of The Four Hour Work Week), and Wim Hof: (The Iceman) continue to gain popularity. If you have taken part in a meditation or yoga class. you are likely to be familiar with the idea of being aware of your breath. When under stress, we often remind ourselves or our children, friends and colleagues to take a deep breaths as a method of self-soothing. So, the experience of these techniques, is almost universal. Mindful breath work is accessible to nearly anyone with patience and a sense of time passing. One common practice is block breathing, explained further below.

Why it works

Breathing is automatic, controlled by the autonomous nervous system. You don’t have to think about it. It’s like digestion or fighting off illness. This system also regulates sleep and regeneration of vital systems, working best when you are at rest. It gets disrupted when you experience stress. It is likely Practicing conscious breathing techniques can create immediate positive changes in your ability to focus or adapt to challenging situations.

A quick how to:

To begin this activity, try a box breath technique. Breathe in for about three seconds, hold it gently for three seconds, exhale slowly for three seconds, and then hold your breath for three more seconds. Repeat this process to slow your heart rate, calm your mind, and organize your thoughts. This technique is simple, requiring only focused breathing and time awareness. It can be done anywhere to help manage stress or promote relaxation. There are various breathing exercises, such as deep breathing, that can have significant effects on your body. Exploring different breathing methods, like those by the Iceman Wim Hof, can lead to profound results.

This year I have done conscious breathing exercises every day. The experiences I’ve had include:

1. Inspiration: The English word “inspiration” comes from the Latin meaning to “breathe in”. This term is often tied to mystical or religious experiences. I saw this connection clearly this year as I worked on breathing activities. A change in thinking often happens during the activity that involves insight leading to inspiration. For me , answers to problems float to the surface without intentional effort. For example, I realized that I needed to make changes in my art, in the way I painted, using less black and white paint in my paintings. Ideas and solutions materialized during the breath work process.

2. Energized Clarity following the activity:

In the time after completing breathing exercises, which can last several hours, I was able to approach tasks in a focused, relaxed manner. For instance, I noticed that calling a customer service center for help figuring out a bill was less challenging than usual after a breath work session. I could think about the fact that even though I spent a lot of time on hold, I was making progress and cooperating with another being in a way that helped both of us.

3. Hidden health benefits. As with many practices of mindfulness, science continues to validate what history teaches.

Recently scientific evaluations at the Cleveland clinic and Stanford University have shown evidence that taking part in activities like box breathing can clearly improve subjects feeling of well-being.

So if you’re feeling worn out anxious or in need of a shift in perspective you have little to lose and much gain by starting a breath, work practice additional notes on this can be found elsewhere on this site. Please reach out if you have questions or concerns or suggestions.

-Alex