Life In 19x19

I have a dilemma somewhat related to Robert's "Oxygen" thread.

Oddly enough, I often stop breathing while reading in live games. I have no idea why, but suspect I am just over-focused, to the point of shutting down this "involuntary" reflex. This causes me intense headaches at tournaments. These headaches have gotten worse as I've gotten stronger and try to read deeper. My solution is to record the game, as this non-reading activity allows me to breathe every move. Obviously this is insufficient because I still get headaches.

This doesn't happen to me online.

Like Robert, I'd appreciate suggestions.

I think maybe drain all the air from the room is a good start.

Go for a 40 minute run before your game. Get the heart and lungs working. They won't just slow down immediately afterwards.

Brings a whole new meaning to suffocating eye space. Sounds like a coordination problem. I think some people have similar problems focusing when practicing drums/piano. One solution is learning an activity with controlled breathing, like swimming or yoga, or just practice controlled breathing while playing go. Maybe one or two breaths per stone or something depending on the tempo you want.

I also used to get headaches, but not from lack of air, but a lack of water. Nowadays I make sure I drink a lot (water or tea) and it really helped my concentration and general well-being : )
Maybe this helps you, otherwise good luck.

It might be best to stop playing if it's that stressful. It's a game after all.

Same here when I do extremely fine layout work or cartography … very shallow breathing, sometimes even stopping to breathe for quite long times. Guess I could perhaps be a good apnea diver But actually not really funny.

At least meanwhile I notice and then I first take some deep breaths and try to breathe consciously for at least a few minutes.

Forgive me, please, for doing the Ingrid here

I’d like to know whether this is possibly a side effect of being a smoker … since smoking means to learn to submit the natural flow of breath, the rhythm of expanding and contracting, to the need to keep the ember (?) smouldering … which also means that we (smokers) supress natural physical response ( breathing) to emotional ongoings. Nobody I know can laugh or cry with smoke in their breathing system …

One of the strongest reasons I want to stop smoking.

Greetings, Tom

wineandgolover wrote:I often stop breathing while reading in live games.

Yes, it means your mind and your body are not quite "in one," at least not in live Go.

PeterHB wrote:Go for a 40 minute run before your game.

Similar to Peter's suggestion: with regular (daily) vigorous cardiovascular exercises,
the breathing will naturally be in better shape, all the time. In Go or otherwise. During reading or otherwise.

Bonobo wrote:Nobody I know can laugh or cry with smoke in their breathing system

Even with super clean non-smoking healthy lungs, when we are very sad, during deep mourning,
in very serious crying, we also "forget" to breathe -- thus the sudden,
involuntary "choking," "hicuppy" style of inhales to suck in air during the deep crying.

Bonobo wrote:Same here when I do extremely fine layout work or cartography...very shallow breathing,

Yes. Breathing is one direct link between our "conscious" and "sub-conscious" minds --
some martial artists (and athletes) have known this for thousands of years.

For example, in kendo (is Nick-1 here? ), during a cut, the exhale matters.
In judo, aikido, and wrestling, during a throw -- whether you're the throw-er or throw-ee (faller) --
the exhale matters (same reasons).

Very curious to hear from experienced pianists about their breathing during a performance.

wineandgolover wrote:I have a dilemma somewhat related to Robert's "Oxygen" thread.

Oddly enough, I often stop breathing while reading in live games. I have no idea why, but suspect I am just over-focused, to the point of shutting down this "involuntary" reflex. This causes me intense headaches at tournaments. These headaches have gotten worse as I've gotten stronger and try to read deeper. My solution is to record the game, as this non-reading activity allows me to breathe every move. Obviously this is insufficient because I still get headaches.

This doesn't happen to me online.

Like Robert, I'd appreciate suggestions.

Hold a wine cork between your teeth.

(A tip I picked up from violin players. )

Bonobo wrote:Forgive me, please, for doing the Ingrid here

I’d like to know whether this is possibly a side effect of being a smoker … since smoking means to learn to submit the natural flow of breath, the rhythm of expanding and contracting, to the need to keep the ember (?) smouldering … which also means that we (smokers) supress natural physical response ( breathing) to emotional ongoings. Nobody I know can laugh or cry with smoke in their breathing system …

One of the strongest reasons I want to stop smoking.

Greetings, Tom

I can't use this excuse. I'm a non-smoker.

EdLee wrote:

wineandgolover wrote:I often stop breathing while reading in live games.

Yes, it means your mind and your body are not quite "in one," at least not in live Go.

PeterHB wrote:Go for a 40 minute run before your game.

Similar to Peter's suggestion: with regular (daily) vigorous cardiovascular exercises,
the breathing will naturally be in better shape, all the time. In Go or otherwise. During reading or otherwise.

I can't disagree with your first point, but I run quite a bit, so I doubt that's it. Mind you, I had a cold for the ten days leading up to Congress and got very little exercise. But it happens every year (the breathing thing, not the cold).

What else can I do to bring my mind and body "in one?"

(Never seen Nick-1 here, sadly)

Thanks, buddy.

Bill Spight wrote:
Hold a wine cork between your teeth.

That could give me a psychological edge, too.

Bonobo wrote:Same here when I do extremely fine layout work or cartography … very shallow breathing, sometimes even stopping to breathe for quite long times.

That's probably because, when doing very delicate work, you can't afford any needless motions. You don't want to blow on the page, or have the motion of your chest as you breathe in and out impart needless movements to your arms and hands.

wineandgolover wrote:

Bill Spight wrote:
Hold a wine cork between your teeth.

That could give me a psychological edge, too.

Just make sure you don't lean over and drool on the board.