Controlling breathing

I played some practice games today and found myself playing 8 games. The rhythm of my aerobics condition was decidedly periodic. I played the first game very conservatively. The result was 4 -11. The second game, I picked up a little more focus and moved with a little more pop and hit more aggressively, but the score was still not in my favor at 8 - 11. The third and forth games I was more or less in full flight. The scores were close, but I took the upper hand both times. My pace and Richard H's were pretty even. I would loose a few points to rally back ahead. My momentum in the next round of four games told the story of my conditioning shortcomings. In the first game I had a good start, but started to lose focus and breathing half way into it. Then it was a struggle to maintain the spring in my legs and calmness in my swings. I lost the first two games the same way. The third game is when I started to realize I can control my breathing and thereby control my level of energy. I lost too much ground on the third game, but still rallied to 11 - 13, losing a couple of close call lets and a stroke. By the forth game, I was getting the hang of the breathing rhythm and I was able to maintain a working level of energy and concentration. I rallied to win that 11 - 9.

It was the first experience I've had where I consciously controlled my breathing to control how I jump off my feet and how I control my swing. I adopted the breathing rhythm I get into when I am running my third and forth lap in Kezar stadium. It is an in-in out-out tempo. During the last game, that was the only conscious act I focused on. I didn't think about where I should hit the ball or how good I must hit the ball. I just thought of how to keep breathing and to control my movement and my swing.

Today's was a valuable practice. I have to put this into practice more frequently.