I am breathing in. I am breathing out.

It's that simple!

I suggest that people tune into their breath all the time. Why? Because the breath is the key to coordination, it is calming, it can be energizing, and it is the present moment.

Do you ever ask yourself, “how do I pay attention to my breath?”  I used to.

Recently, I have come to realize I have a favorite way to do this that I learned, (you guessed it), in Parkour.

It goes like this…

As you breathe in, say to yourself “I am breathing in” and as you breathe out, “I am breathing out”.  This seems so simple, and it is, which means that is easy to access, even under pressure.

Saying these simple sentences, you are brought into the present moment and you can observe the breath. This means you step away from the past and spinning scary tales of the future.  You can even do this as you play or sing if you need to come back into the present. Consider trying it out as you prepare to perform, as you bow, during rests, before you have to speak

I practice this ALL the time because that makes me familiar with the process, allowing me to use it in higher-stakes situations.

Be curious…

Speaking of breathing… it’s not too late to join “Breathe Deeply Again” a 3-part workshop on understanding and embodying natural breathing for music-making, sports, and life.