Forum Replies Created

  • Ray Gornik (piano)

    Member
    March 19, 2024 at 11:19 am in reply to: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art | by James Nestor

    I must have read chapters 8, 9, and 10 too fast to really understand how it fit in with the previous chapters. I’ll be re-reading them before the next book club starts. All in all the book gave me many ideas that have sparked some of my own experimentation, especially with resistance exercise and the 5.5 second breath regime. I’m also trying to work a breathing routine with Moonlight sonata movement 1, to see if I can develop a flow of breath with the music. This is a bit more complicated than with the exercise routine since the musical phrasing is not as predictable as exercising. It’s starting to feel more like ‘singing breathing’ with different lengths of inhale and exhale. It’s been interesting. I’ve enjoyed many of the comments and insights. Best to all of YOU!!!

  • Ray Gornik (piano)

    Member
    March 1, 2024 at 10:03 pm in reply to: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art | by James Nestor

    Interesting reading. The nose songs exercise in the Appendix has been very helpful. Using the technique to hum each part as I learn Clair de lune. I’m also trying to figure out how to use Breathing while playing the piece, it’s a challenge with all the Tempo changes.
    Breathing through the nose while exercising has been interesting the last couple of weeks. When I first started incorporating the two activities I was out of breath toward the end of each set. It is getting better and I’ll keep on doing it.
    I’m also trying to restrict air inflow to see how my diaphragm responds. I’m blocking one nostril completely and restricting the other about half. I do this sitting down. Trying to make a vacuum effect. I do sit when trying this, haven’t gotten dizzy at all. I unblock and exhale slowly out of both nostrils. I’m going to try and block the exhale some in the future to train my breathing for the humming longer phrases and maybe even sing a little bit.
    My thought is why not try different things and see what happens. The author certainly put himself out there so I’m being a bit more adventurous. It’s been a fun week trying different approaches.

  • Ray Gornik (piano)

    Member
    February 25, 2024 at 2:52 pm in reply to: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art | by James Nestor

    The last I performed in front of a live audience was pre-covid. As I sat in the pit waiting to play I looked at my fitbit and saw my heart rate was 145 bpm. A bit high for one who was in his late 60’s. Since that time I’ve tried to practice my ‘performance’ routine by raising my heart rate to mimic what seems to naturally happen in my body before playing in front of a live audience. After reading these chapters I’m hoping to change my approach and learn how to calm myself so my heart rate and all that it entails is more manageable. This will probably a better long term solution since I’m not getting any younger. After just 2 weeks of practicing some of these breathing techniques my at-rest heart rate has gone from 68 bpm to 62 bpm, and my sleep is improving too. Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences, successes and soon to be successes.

  • Ray Gornik (piano)

    Member
    February 17, 2024 at 12:27 pm in reply to: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art | by James Nestor

    Noa, I too am skeptical of the hype. The deep diving section got me wondering how beneficial this book could be. Then I started reading the notes on page 231 along with the text and was pleasantly surprised by the depth of Mr. Nestor’s research. My mind is much more open. As an aside, I’m rethinking my exercise routine to spending more time nose breathing after reading the mouth breathing section. BTW there are a lot of interviews of him on YouTube that are interesting. I also took away some information of heart rate and maximizing exercise results. I confess I did read ahead and have already tried some of the breathing techniques. My last live performance a few years back was accompanied by a 145-bpm heart rate as I sat in the audience waiting my turn to perform. I’m a 70-year-old and am looking for solutions to bring this level of anxiety to a more manageable level. I’m hopeful this book will move me in that direction.

  • Ray Gornik (piano)

    Member
    March 7, 2023 at 10:49 am in reply to: Post your WOOP – Week of March 6th

    WISH: It’s March 7th, working on Mozart Sonata 13 KV 333 2nd Movement Andante cantabile. Work on Measure 32-82. Get comfortable with the notes and develop a plan for interpretation.

    OUTCOME: A level of comfort playing with direction and feeling.

    OBSTACLES: procrastination

    PLAN: If I’m thinking about the piece, THEN I WILL sit at the piano and work on one phrase.

  • Ray Gornik (piano)

    Member
    March 3, 2024 at 12:32 pm in reply to: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art | by James Nestor

    Hi, wasn’t able to copy and paste link weight-loss article in Washington Post 2016. I typed ‘when you lose weight where does it go washington post’ and the article came up. Here’s a quote “An exhalation itself isn’t going to tap into your fat stores in any significant way, but the huffing and puffing that occurs during an intense workout will be full of the sweet spoils of weight loss”. That goes against the slow breathing during exercise that James N refers too. I’m sure this is more complicated than what I’m understanding and presenting here.

    It seemed to me that the Resonant Breathing instructions on page 221 sets the tone for the exercise/prayer/asthma discussions in chapters 5 & 6. On page 246 there are references to articles about Controlled Breathing, Slow Deep Breathing, etc. The book didn’t give much in the way of detailed explanations concerning Resonant Breathing.

    My 1st night using the tape was also funny. I didn’t want my wife to know what I was doing so I placed the Tape on the edge of the nightstand and after turning on the lights tried to find it and place on my lips. Couldn’t find it at first, then got in twisted up, then placed on lips crooked. 2nd night was better.

  • Ray Gornik (piano)

    Member
    March 3, 2024 at 11:59 am in reply to: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art | by James Nestor

    If you are thinking about Box Breathing there is a description of it on page 229. Inhale 5 sec, hold 5, exhale 5, hold 5. It looks like he gives two time components for different occasions. Hope this helps.

  • Ray Gornik (piano)

    Member
    March 1, 2024 at 10:05 pm in reply to: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art | by James Nestor

    Hi, I’m also going to try and find out how to breath better for singing and humming. If you find anything interesting let me know, and I will also.

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