Tortoise Knows Best

How to Be Slow in a Fast Environment Part 3 – Breathe!

Written by Matt Caulfield on January 22, 2009

draft_lens1635638module9356724photo_1209664181breathe_stone When we get stressed or flustered we have a tendency of holding our breath or breathing shallowly from the top 3rd of our lungs. This often causes the side effects of panting, tight shoulders and that high pitched voice you get when you are nervous.

Breath is the most important thing in life.

You can survive around 18 days without food, 3 days without water, but only 3 minutes without breath (the time it takes for your brain to be starved of oxygen).

When you get stressed out or flustered and stop breathing it starves your brain and muscles of oxygen, meaning you will not be able to think as clearly or be as physically or mentally relaxed as you need to be to act in an unflustered way.

So you start to get more stressed and flustered, meaning you tense up more and breathe less and it is all a vicious downward cycle!

The very best way to break this cycle is to, when you notice yourself getting flustered, stop and take some deep breaths.

Practice when you are not stressed or flustered and it will soon become second nature.

You need to take a full diaphragmatic breath. So move your attention to you centre (see Part 1 to find out how to do this), imagine you are breathing from there (like you nose is in your belly button. As you breath in your want your belly to expand, then the lower sides of your rib cage (your “floating” ribs) then your chest and finally you will feel the back of your shoulders expand. When breathing out, it is the reverse process.

You want to breath in slowly for the count of 7, hold for a second and then breathe out even slower, to the count of 11. And then repeat, but never hold it for a second after the out breath, when your lungs are empty.

It is best to practice lying down to begin with.

If you are feeling all adventurous, you can add a little psychological command to the breath to get your mind in the right place. When you breathe in, focus on the word “relaxed” or “calm” or whatever word seems appropriate to you. On the out breath you can focus on the word “stress” (or whatever seems appropriate), so as you breath in you are breathing in relaxation and breathing out (expelling, getting rid of) stress.

Next I will talk about the power of posture and how when theses three (centring, breathing and posture) are combined you will be well on your way to being a true Slow Person in a Fast Environment!

How to be Slow in a Fast Environment Part 2

Written by Matt Caulfield on January 16, 2009

blurred_crowd I started this theme a few months ago on my last trip to London. You can find that post here.

I have just recently returned from a trip to London once again, so I thought now would a good time to carry on with this theme. As I said last time, Slow is not about be dull witted, crawling along and not paying attention, it is in fact the exact opposite and can be defined by words like “unhurried”, “unflustered” and “mindful” other key traits of a slow person is to have impeccable manners (because they are mindful and unflustered they don’t snap and are kind and considerate), and be cheery and optimistic.

I like the term “Hilaritas” that I learned from Robert Anton Wilson. “Hilaritas” allegedly derives from a Greek word, meaning “live joyfully and be proud of who you are” (although I have never found any evidence to back this up, so I think it may be a made up word. But who cares? All words are made up really aren’t they?).

I am sure you have seen people like this, (I usually see them at the airport – and am always very envious, as I haven’t perfected this yet!) they stroll through a busy and disorganised environment, remaining calm and cool as a cucumber, they are polite and always seem to get there before you even though you have been rushing and they have seemingly been strolling long. They often get served fist too, and end up with an upgrade!

And look just damn cool… See, this slow lark is worth it isn’t it?

They are living embodiment of Slow. Even in a stressful environment they are slow and unflustered.

Envious? Well with a bit of practice you can be just like them! I have taken some time to study these people and have elicited their key traits of that if you integrate them into your behaviour and thinking, very quickly (ironically) you can become one of those people too!

I have already spoken about the first trait in my last “How to be slow in a fast environment” post. Which was centring. Personally I believe this is the number one behaviour to develop. Everythign else on the lsit below begins there. Practice this one and the rest will become more easily. Below I have listed other key traits. That I will go into detail with in the next few posts: