Tag Archive for 'calma'

Why a deep breath calms us

It’s common to hear, “Take a deep breath to calm yourself.” But few people really know why this simple behavior can truly result in a mental and physical state of greater relaxation and self-control.

More than 25 years ago, a network of 3,000 interconnected neurons was identified within the brain system that appear to control most aspects of breathing, which has been called the pacemaker of breathing.

Other breakthroughs have been produced by studying the different proteins produced by genes in each cell highlighting at least 65 different types of neurons in the pacemaker, each presumably with a unique responsibility for regulating some aspect of respiration.

Research was published in Nature that showed that if certain cell types were inhibited in mice they lost the ability to sigh, In fact, mice, like people, normally sigh every few minutes, albeit unconsciously.

A subsequent investigation showed that by disabling another type of neuron related to breathing these animals initially continued to maintain the ability to sigh, yawn and breathe normally. However, when they were put under stress (e.g., changing cages) they did not exhibit the usual behaviors of exploration and rapid cancellation but remained calm and clean.

By examining the brain tissue of the mice, it was found that the particular blocked neurons showed direct connections to a portion of the brain that is known to be involved in arousal processes, which in turn sends signals to several other parts of the brain that determine wakefulness, alertness, and sometimes anxious or frantic behaviors. In these mice, this area of the brain remained quiet.

In essence, neurons whose functioning had been inhibited would usually produce a high level of activation to alert them that something potentially worrisome was happening. Deprived of this mechanism, the mice exhibited behaviors oriented toward tranquility.

In the case of people, performing deep breaths would play this calming role by inhibiting the activity of neurons that communicate with the arousal center of the brain.

#RealMadridJuventus needs calm and patience

Calm and patience two words that reflect the mental approachto show during an important match like Real Madrid – Juventus. Ancelotti said: “We have to stay calm and focused on every detail. It’s just calm that brings you to give my best.” So before the mind and then the technique.

The enemy is the impulsivity, action without the mind, the rush to make a goal immediately. Feel too much the game is the mistake to avoid  and the first 20 minutes will reveal who between the two teams will have better learned the lesson about calm.

This calm and patient attitude is an example of maturity where: pride for what has been done so far, self-confidence and will to win are so well integrated that they seem to disappear in the calm that prepares the momentum when the teams should instead try to make a goal. Who will have more calm will wait for the moment to put in really difficult opponent.

The momentum is the other key concept of this game will need to build it and play it effectively.

In shooting sports the athlete’s mood determines the performance

The last two Sundays I have been with shooters, 16/19 years old, and I realized again how important it’s for them even in training to be supported by a calm and peaceful mood. Trap shooting is a sport that requires before shooting a condition of total concentration followed soon after by a period of relaxation and waiting for about 40 seconds before the next shot. This psychological situation is repeated 25 times, which is the number of shots for each round. The confidence to perform effectively the shot and as a result to hit the target, is based on a mental state of calm that when it fails opens the door for a thousand doubts that hinder the performance. To these young athletes is then required to be 25 times in this state of mind, and especially after having made ​​a mistake it’s not easy to push away the critical thoughts that appear and getting focused on the next shot. Perform this task, to quickly find serenity after an error is an exercise that educates their mind to react more positively otherwise there would be a very real possibility of committing right after another. Thing that can happen on the other hand, as it is impossible not to make mistakes. So this exercise, to relax and focus, must be performed each time, knowing that in any case some plate will not be equally hit, who is more constant in this exercise will improve more quickly than others. In this way the shooters train them to maintain a calm and peaceful mood with the awareness that it’s the basis of the confidence of knowing how to hit the next target.

8 times Nadal at Roland Garros: calm and anger

I like to call “majestic” Nadal’s match vs Ferrer. Nadal showed great anger on every shot without ever having hurry to finish. The expressions on his face are there to witness it.

Be calm and angry

Nel campionato di calcio è il momento della calma, umiltà e dell’aggressività. Mi sembra siano questi i tre atteggiamenti più importanti che gli allenatori stanno chiedendo alle loro squadre. La calma serve per entrare in campo e giocare con la mente liberi da fantasmi e preoccupazioni. L’umiltà perchè bisogna sapere giocare con la stessa voglia e determinazione ogni settimana senza lasciarsi influenzare dai risultati precedenti, dalla posizione in classifica o dagli avversari.L’aggressività fa da contraltare alla calma. La calma è la convinzione nei propri mezzi e l’aggressività serve per giocare ogni palla con la prontezza fisica e mentale necessaria e per gesire lo stress agonistica quando si è stanchi e a capovolgere i momenti negativi della partita.