I first started paying attention to breathing after reading John Douillard's
book "Body, Mind, and Sport." Having rid of one quarter of body weight (I was
obese) at 41, I felt light as a bird and was obsessed with running. The idea of
matching steps and pace with breathing felt intuitive. It relaxed me and, as I kept at it, endurance and speed gains followed naturally. I especially enjoyed
jogging uphill. No matter how steep the incline, I just lean forward like a log,
shorten my steps, and adjust my breath on the go and in time reach the top with
ease. In four years, I was able to run up Mission Peak (2516 feet/766 meters
elevation) three times in a row in Xero sandals.
Jiu-jitsu, which I took up at the age of 48, was another example. Breathing
is huge in the sport thanks to Rickson Gracie, the master representing the
highest level in the art, who titled his biography "Breathe." As moves and
positions are virtually uncountable, one simply needs to keep the air flowing
regardless. This is easier said than done as the fight-or-flight instinct often
takes over in a tight spot. I still have a long way to go.
Overtime, I have blended breathing with other movements. Whatever I do, be it
hammering a nail, painting a door, cutting grass, yoga, or just walking, I would
consciously inhale and exhale to match the motions. I have even tried to apply
the idea when reading and writing. Sitting in half-lotus copying the dictionary,
I would regularly remind myself to inhale and exhale instead of letting my mind
wander away for too long. The result is improved focus and less fatigue.
In August, Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" reached me, in time to save me
three sleepless nights so far. I doubled my effort to focus on breathing when
lying still. This way of meditation was not new. Only after losing my job,
however, did I realize I had to control my mind. For one thing, when the mind
insisted on fretting, usually imagining a dark future, I couldn't do anything
about it and had to lose sleep, which often started a vicious cycle. Conscious
breathing was one way to rein the wild beast in.
I can see where this is going. Eventually, anything the world has to offer, glory,
wealth, love, food, wisdom, sex, etc., will pale in front of the profound peace
and joy within, induced by breathing. The paths toward living this fact, just
like the pursuit of happiness, are different for everyone but sooner or later some
are disillusioned enough to try. Instinctively, I feel I have stumbled on a
powerful idea that will lead to enlightenment, which according to Buddha, is the
end of suffering.
