Tiger Woods and other top professional golfers use a specific breathing method to relax their bodies and achieve a fluid golf swing.

You can easily do the same. But first, let’s do a quick test to see where you currently are.

In just a moment, I want you to take a deep breath.

And I want you to pay attention to what happens to your chest and stomach as you do it.

OK … do that now.

If you’re like 95% of all golfers, then your chest probably immediately expanded outward, while your stomach headed toward your spine.

If that’s the case, then you actually took a very shallow breath, not a deep one.

You would be classified as a “chest respirator”!

Try not to panic. I am trained to relieve you of this chronic condition.

Okay, but why should you care?

Less than optimal breathing (chest breathing) can cause:

o An increase in respiratory rate

o Increased tension in the neck muscles.

o Headaches

o Feelings of anxiety

o Increased stress

o Increased pain sensation

o Stiff and tired muscles

o Rigid and restricted joints

o Bad sleep patterns

o Bad circulation

or bad posture

o Inefficient movement patterns

Experiencing any of the above side effects means your golf game is going to suck. Or at least it won’t live up to its full potential.

On the other hand, proper breathing:

or elicits a relaxation response

o Provides an optimal amount of oxygen to your body

o Improves circulation

o Helps maintain healthy muscles (including back)

Let me be very clear about this:

The way you breathe will literally determine your body’s physiology, for better or for worse.

Do you still think this breathing thing is a no-brainer?

The good news is that with a little practice and awareness, you can reprogram your breathing techniques and reap the corresponding benefits.

Optimal breathing exercise

Phrase 1:

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.

2. Place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest.

3. Breathe in slowly through your nose. Try to imagine the air going down to the lower part of the lungs (abdominal area). It can be helpful to imagine your abdomen as a balloon, and as you inhale, the balloon inflates. Don’t try to force your abdomen out; instead, simply allow the air of your inhalation to expand it.

4. Stop inhaling before the hand on your chest begins to move.

5. Hold your breath for 5 seconds.

6. Breathe out slowly through your nose or mouth. Use your hand to feel your “abdominal balloon” slowly deflate as your belly button moves toward your spine.

Do 10 or more repetitions. I recommend starting with this “tummy only” phase and continuing until it feels relatively natural and easy.

Phase 2:

Actually, the Phase 1 exercise was only 2/3 breathing. This is an improvement over chest breathing, but not quite optimal yet. Now we will integrate the upper third of your breathing capacity: the upper chest area.

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.

2. Place one hand on your abdomen and the other on your chest.

3. Breathe in slowly through your nose. Try to imagine the air going down to the lower part of the lungs (abdominal area). It can be helpful to imagine your abdomen as a balloon, and as you inhale, the balloon inflates. Don’t try to force your abdomen out; instead, simply allow the air of your inhalation to expand it.

4. Instead of stopping the “inflation” in the upper abdominal area, allow the breath to continue into the upper lungs and make the chest rise.

5. Hold your breath for 5 seconds.

6. Breathe out slowly through your nose or mouth. The order of “deflation” should be the opposite of the “inflation” pattern. That is, the hand from the chest should fall first and then the hand from the abdomen.

Now that is a complete and optimal breath.

This may take a bit of practice, but it is worth the time and effort.

I would suggest spending five minutes in the morning, and again at night, just before bed, to master this technique. Once this technique feels quite natural on the ground, integrate it into your standing posture, for use on the field.

Now go find them, Tigre!