. . . hold it for a moment - then let it out while slowly counting backward . . . five, four, three, two, one, ahhhh . . .
Breathing ought to come naturally to us. After all, we start breathing on our own the moment the doctor slaps us on the butt at birth and pretty much continue until the day we die. But the fact is, most of us do not breathe efficiently. That means your blood is never fully oxygenated, and you don’t reach your full energy potential. It also means your seldom really relaxed.
What does this have to do with craps and precision shooting? A couple of things. First, most people are “lazy” breathers. They use only the top halves of their lungs with any regularity. The bottom halves of the lungs go unused. As a result, more carbon dioxide builds up in the bloodstream. That in turn makes the blood more acidic, which puts more pressure on your heart, causes physical stress, and muscle tension. Stress and tension. Ever experienced those at the craps table? Ahhhhh. Now you’re starting to get the picture.
But practiced breathing also serves another function at the tables. One of the most common flaws I see with student's tosses is what I refer to as the "rush to throw." You take your time setting and gripping the dice, and by the time you are ready to toss you convince yourself you are taking to long. As a result, you rush your toss and end up tossing poorly. So how do you address that? Once you get the dice set, take a moment to aim, then take a deep breath and let it out before completing your throw.
If you slow down and breathe you will be in good company. Pofessional athletes have long since learned the importance of proper breathing techniques. They understand how to release performance anxiety by fully expanding their diaphragms through a technique sometimes referred to as “belly breathing.” But these aren't "new age" techniques. Most of the breathing techniques being taught these days have their origins in Eastern philosophies such as yoga and tai chi, and date back thousands of years. Most can be learned on your own with just a little guidance and practice.
Make a point of sitting quietly for a few minutes a day and just breathing. A simple count-down breathing technique – taking a deep breath as described in the beginning of this article, holding it for a couple of seconds, then breathing out to a five, four, three, two, one countdown is a good way to begin. Start low and go slow – practicing your breathing for three to five minutes a day at first, gradually working up to fifteen to twenty minutes. Soon you will see the energy connection, gain discipline, and improve your ability to focus.
Practicing deep breathing and relaxation techniques in your hotel room before heading down to the tables gives you something you can apply in the heat of the game – an energy reserve you can draw on when the pressure mounts. And if you feel yourself getting tense at the tables, you’ll be able to breathe your troubles away.
Copyright January 2007 by Steve "Heavy" Haltom - All Rights Reserved
