ballroomdancertoo
Well-Known Member
My teacher tell me to breathe. I don't realize that I hold my breath through a sequence of step. does anyone have ideas of how and when to breathe? thanks in advance.
breathing question
- Thread starter ballroomdancertoo
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Mr 4 styles
Forum Master
We are coached on our breathing during competition routines. You can even use breath to understand emoting
s2k
Well-Known Member
I had the same problem once. I walked through every step and "choreographed in" when to breathe - inhaling slowly, like in a rumba or bolero slow counts; fast, like a ZIP! when I am turning - sometimes it's an "AHHHHH!" exhale with a stretch. And as Mr. 4 Styles points out, I use it to help emote - that "AHHHH!" exhale is when I'm reaching out to him in rumba, calling him to me, like I can't possibly bear it without him another second.
This was me, though: I realized part of the reason I was holding my breath was that I didn't feel stable or grounded, I felt timid about the steps and wasn't committed to fully changing my weight. It was only after a lot of video watching and thinking about what I was thinking about that I realized that holding my breath meant I hadn't really internalized the trust I should have over the mechanics of the steps. Perhaps this is something to consider, too.
But your question has got me thinking now - in yoga, breathing is "in though the nose, out through the mouth." I do that when I dance, too. And now I am wondering how everyone else breathes.
This was me, though: I realized part of the reason I was holding my breath was that I didn't feel stable or grounded, I felt timid about the steps and wasn't committed to fully changing my weight. It was only after a lot of video watching and thinking about what I was thinking about that I realized that holding my breath meant I hadn't really internalized the trust I should have over the mechanics of the steps. Perhaps this is something to consider, too.
But your question has got me thinking now - in yoga, breathing is "in though the nose, out through the mouth." I do that when I dance, too. And now I am wondering how everyone else breathes.
Mr 4 styles
Forum Master
Awesome post Larinda, and as you know martial arts borrowed from pranayam to help teach breathing.
Another metal focusing technique to help you perform in less than ideal circumstances( i.e. combat or extreme physical exertion) is "box-breathing"
Fill lungs slowly over 5 seconds... hold without pressure 5 seconds breath out slowly and fully 5 seconds hold on exhale without tension 5 seconds...you only get three a minute!!
Another metal focusing technique to help you perform in less than ideal circumstances( i.e. combat or extreme physical exertion) is "box-breathing"
Fill lungs slowly over 5 seconds... hold without pressure 5 seconds breath out slowly and fully 5 seconds hold on exhale without tension 5 seconds...you only get three a minute!!
ballroomdancertoo
Well-Known Member
thanks for the breath tips. just knowing when im holding my breath is hard enough since I am only focusing on execution. the teacher has to inform me. next step I guess is either this box-breathing technique before I start. ill give it a try. but looks like it would be hard to coordinate the breathing and starting the figure!
FancyFeet
Forum Master
I like to use my breathing to enhance what I'm dancing. There aren't hard and fast rules I use, but after paying attention to it at practice this morning, I noticed that I tend to breathe out on driving steps (especially moving forward), and in when I'm slowly building a shape (because it helps me "grow" into the movement).
I do practice coordinating my breathing with my dancing, particularly in tricky bits of choreo. I think I first started becoming aware of and working on it in VW - out as I go forward, in as I go back.
I do practice coordinating my breathing with my dancing, particularly in tricky bits of choreo. I think I first started becoming aware of and working on it in VW - out as I go forward, in as I go back.
ballroomdancertoo
Well-Known Member
thanks FancyFeet, I know for a fact that I tend to breathe in before commencing a movement. it's just that I hold it till the sequence is done even if there is pauses inbetween. looks like breathing has to have its own choreography!