For the most part, we fail to breathe. You might be saying, "That can't be true...I am breathing right now." Are you? The chances are that you are breathing in a very shallow fashion. This negatively affects your posture, your concentration, pain-free movement and your overall psyche. Are you really present as you read through this website?   Are you present while driving amongst the twitterers and the texters?

Are you breathing properly when you train or exercise? You probably think you are breathing correctly when you train in your martial art, Pilates, yoga, kick box or spinning class? After all, you are exercising/training and you are not breathing in a shallow fashion so you must be breathing correctly. The chances are that you are still far from breathing in a fashion that will limit fatigue, relieve fear, reduce tension and allow you to be truly in the moment and free; free to move, free to release, free to grow and connect to all that you are meant to.

Integral to Systema training is breath training. The goal is to teach us how to breathe in a way that will allow for the freedom of movement that we all need in order to not only survive difficult situations, but to heal our self and others. The Systema methods involve re-wiring the brain via simple exercises that can be incorporated into a morning walk, martial arts training and, yes, when driving with the twittering masses.

Breath techniques will melt away fear, anger, sadness and frustration. The techniques are simple and fun. They can be practiced anywhere and anytime.

At Park City Aiki-Systema you will hear about your breath at the beginning of class when we warm up and stretch, during class when we train and practice and as the class ends you will find yourself energized and feeling better. Why? You guessed it: you were breathing correctly throughout most of the class.

When we breathe properly we are able to move continuously.   When we move properly we constantly change the equation of our opponent. We can absorb/neutralize and blend with conflict. The joy of training will heal us as we let go of the past and accept that we cannot know the future. Our breath will bring us to the only time that matters: Now.

Drill:

Try this: Sit comfortably, but properly aligned with your shoulders back, neck elongated and straight. Now breath in through your nose and out through your mouth as follows:
     2 counts in and 2 counts out. Do this 4 times.
     Now: 4 counts in; 4 counts out. Do this 4 times.
     Now: 8 counts in; hold for 4 counts; and 8 counts out. Do this twice.
     Now: 4 counts in; 4 counts out. Do this twice.
     Now: 2 counts in; 2 counts out.
Now: Re-read this page or navigate to another page and read the page. Are you more aware? Do you feel more alive? Would you like to feel this way all the time? The breath is the key and we have many more methods that we can show you to make this possible-each and every moment of your life. Try this same sequence on your next walk.