When I'm running at practices, races
or just for leisure, my breathing is all over the place. My breaths are
uneven and hard to control. It's almost like I have something building up in my
chest and the only way to get rid of it is to breathe through my mouth, even
though I know you should inhale through the nose and exhale through
the mouth. I really want to focus on my breathing because I don't want it
to affect my performance and be a distraction. According to Sakyong Mipham,
"Beginning runners often tend to hold their breath or only use a portion
of their lungs... As we begin to run more, we begin to relax with the
breathing. This can be accomplished by breathing deeper. After we become
proficient runners, we realize that human body is designed to breathe. Our
lungs take up our torso and back" (Mipham 29). To help my breathing process
while running, I need to breathe more deeply so I can gain more oxygen into my
body. This will help me create steady breaths and have enough energy to
continue my run. I think my biggest problem with breathing is that
I forget to breathe while running. Although this sounds silly, it leaves
me to breathe more rapidly but not deeply. I struggle to get
oxygen when breathing fast because I am not using my entire lung
capacity. Continuously thinking about breathing will stop me from forgetting and help with balanced breathes. Better yet, breathing deeply AND rapidly will allow my lungs
to be used the way they should be and allow me to gain a better running experience.
To add on, Mipham also informed
me that the flow of oxygen and oxygenation of the blood are linked to
good health. It's important to pay attention to the breath when exhaling and
inhaling because of the benefits it creates for the mind and body. It
creates a stable mind, releases negative and stressful thoughts, and
balances emotions (Mipham 27). Breathing is clearly very important for the
body and mind to function properly. I've learned that I can use my breaths as
an advantage to keep my mind focused and stabilize my thought process during
runs. If I am breathing deeply and getting enough breaths in, I will
be able to distract myself from the pain and run with more ease to help my body
relax. Moreover, my lung capacity will increase so I will be getting more oxygen in to power my body. Knowing the process of how oxygen flows and putting it to use will help
me clear my mind from any distractions while running. Also, practicing
deep breathing even when I’m not running will improve my breathing, lung
capacity, and thought process. All in all, changing my breathing is a slight adjustment that can have a major impact on my running activities by benefitting my speed and time.
| Oxygen flow to brain |
 |
| Lung capacity |
I want to know: How has breathing
affected your performance in an activity and what things have you done to help
improve your breathing cycle?
Mipham, Sakyong. Running with the Mind of Meditation. New York, United States:
Harmony Books, 2012. Print.
