Klarinet Archive - Posting 000782.txt from 2000/11

From: DGross1226@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Breathing/Relaxation
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 19:38:19 -0500

In a message dated 00-11-24 04:16:40 EST, Neil writes:

<< I like amusement parks, but I really *hate* roller coasters with big
vertical drops. One day, I was thinking about playing the clarinet, while
sitting in one of those cliff-drop rides, slowly ascending to the top. When
the moment came for the ride to release the car, I took a deep breath from
the diaphragm and kept it expanded as the car fell back down to the Earth.
I was delighted to discover that my body had been completely relaxed during
the fall, because all of the tension had been drawn into the flexed diaphragm
muscle and contained there. The rest of my muscles remained relaxed. I
enjoyed the exhilaration and thrill of the fall, without the nearly
unbearable discomfort of shivering and tension that previously characterized
the experience for me.>>

Neil,

You've also discovered part of the secret of how jet fighter pilots help keep
from passing out when the go "over the top." About 30 years ago in my YMCA
"Indian Guide" days we took our 7 and 8 year old sons to Magic Mountain to
ride the roller coasters. One of the dads was a Navy reserve fighter pilot
who noticed me trying to bend the restraining bar in front of me with my bare
hands as I anticipated the pending drop. He told me to fight my natural
instincts and take a deep breath -- but then EXHALE -- to actually relax my
diaphragm which in turn helps relax essentially every muscle in your body.
You might want to try that on your next roller coaster ride and see if
exhaling doesn't work even better.

Don Gross
La Canada, California

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