Both classical and traditional martial arts arts help teach you how to breathe, especially under pressure. My martial arts instructor, GM Sam Chin likes to say "don't let the movement interfere with the breath and don't let the breath interfere with the movement". This kind of skill starts in the mind first. The legendary Zen meditation teacher Thich Nhat Hanh once said "any time you are aware of your breathing, your mind and body are already one". Since breathing can be controlled consciously, it gives us a window into functions of the body that would normally be outside of conscious control; from our heart rate to the functioning of our immune system. That's why ancient practices like meditation and qigong have lasted into modern times. They work, and can have a powerful and transformative effect on human health and quality of life. #zhongxindao #iliqchuan #samchinway (at Tempe, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAk7db0pztO/?igshid=v0hhntiaaxqg
