Re: [Paddlewise] staying calm, (was Boise/Proper Equipment)

From: <kayakwriter_at_netscape.net>
Date: Tue, 05 Apr 2005 19:37:50 -0400
Jeff Hoyer <jkayak_at_sopoint.com> wrote:
>I have found yoga, tai chi and having an "attitude," to be helpful. I'm not sure if anyone offers attitude-cultivation workshops, but I think yoga and>martial-arts are excellent cross-training activities for paddlers.
>I wonder what thoughts other list-members might have on this subject.

I can't remember where I read about this, but I've found "pressure breathing" helps: consciously taking slow deep, full breaths in through the mouth, and exhaling slowly through the nose. I've used it a few times when I've found myself in hairier water than I'd intended. I haven't read an explanation of why it works, but I suspect it's a combination of physical (keeps you fully oxygenated, so you don't start on the downward spiral of short, shallow gasps that don't deliver air and so make you gasp more) and mental (the act of focusing on breathing distracts you a bit from what might cause you to panic.)

Cheers,

Philip
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Received on Tue Apr 05 2005 - 16:38:33 PDT

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