| Your brain needs oxygen -- and lots of
| |
| | bottom to the top.
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| it. Your brain uses up 20% of all the
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| | Inhale and fill up your lungs as though
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| oxygen you breathe in.
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| | they were a pitcher -- from the bottom
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| To play your best game of chess, you need
| |
| | up.
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| lots of oxygen freely flowing to your
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| | Exhale and empty your lungs as though
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| brain.
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| | they were a pitcher -- from the top down.
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| 40% of your body's energy is burned in
| |
| | When that feels easy, start increasing
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| your brain -- probably a lot more while
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| | the times, in the same ratios. That is,
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| you're playing a game of chess. Oxygen is
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| | inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 20, exhale
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| the chief fuel for your body's energy.
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| | for 10. And so on.
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| If a chess tournament were the
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| | Do ten of those deep breaths three times
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| Indianapolis 500, would you rather drive
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| | a day, every day -- and you'll feel
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| a car running on low octane fuel -- or
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| | better, have more energy and play more
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| high octane?
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| | focused chess.
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| Yet most people take in only 20% of air
| |
| | During a game of chess, tension and
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| they could be inhaling.
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| | stress are your enemy. So is a brain
|
| Do some research on oxygen and you'll
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| | starved by oxygen.
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| find that it will also help you lose
| |
| | Deep breathing just happened to relax
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| weight, fight infections and lower your
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| | your entire body, making you better able
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| chances of getting cancer. Good stuff,
| |
| | to concentrate on the game itself. Plus
|
| but this article is about winning more
| |
| | it obviously sends more oxygen to your
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| games of chess.
| |
| | brain, so you can think better and
|
| Good systems of exercise and health
| |
| | faster.
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| include breathing exercises, for the
| |
| | Just before beginning a game of chess,
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| benefit of your body and mind. Yoga and
| |
| | you can really improve your concentration
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| pranayama. Tai chi and chi kou. And
| |
| | through an ancient breathing exercise
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| Pilates incorporates breathing exercises.
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| | where you breathe through only one
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| When you take a series of deep breaths
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| | nostril at a time, alternating each
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| before the game starts, then remember to
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| | nostril.
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| breath deeply and slowly at intervals
| |
| | Cover your right nostril. Inhale through
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| during the game . . . you're giving your
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| | your left for a count of 4. Hold for a
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| brain the high octane fuel it needs to
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| | count of 16. Cover your left nostril and
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| play your best game of chess.
| |
| | exhale through your right nostril for a
|
| First, you must learn how to breath
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| | count of 8.
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| properly. You must unlearn what you think
| |
| | Then inhale through your right nostril.
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| you know. Chances are, you've been taught
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| | Hold for a count of 16. Cover your right
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| that "deep breathing" means sucking in
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| | nostril again and exhale through your
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| air through your mouth while sticking out
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| | left nostril for a count of 4.
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| your chest. Forget that.
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| | Repeat 3 times -- or until you feel
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| Your mouth is primarily for eating, not
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| | relaxed yet mentally focused.
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| breathing. Breathing is the job of your
| |
| | Yes, it's more complicated than simple
|
| nose. Plus, your lungs are much larger at
| |
| | breathing. That's why it's so effective.
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| the bottom than the top.
| |
| | It's certainly not complicated compared
|
| So you want to breath slowly through your
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| | to playing chess, but it does force you
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| nose while gently expanded the bottom of
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| | to concentration on your breathing, the
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| your rib cage so you fill your lungs with
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| | count and the pattern.
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| air, starting at the bottom. Inhale
| |
| | If your opponent watches you and thinks
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| gently for a count of 4.
| |
| | you're crazy -- so much the better.
|
| Hold for 16.
| |
| | Give your brain the oxygen it needs to
|
| Exhale slowly through your nose for a
| |
| | perform at its best, and it'll reward you
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| count of 8. Exhale completely. That means
| |
| | with the best game of chess you're
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| slowly contracting your rib cage from the
| |
| | capable of.
|
