Precerpt from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary: Breathing through the Battle
After that cardio class —ninety minutes of dancing, lunging, jumping, and shadow boxing—I realized something: It wasn’t just my legs that were tired. It was my lungs . My breath was ragged, shallow, and rebellious. I had strength. I had grit. But I didn’t have breath control. And that, dear reader, is a ninja’s weak spot. 🧘♀️ Breathwork: The Hidden Blade Breath isn’t just oxygen. It’s rhythm. It’s recovery. It’s the difference between powering through and burning out. Here’s what I’ve learned (and am still learning): 1. Inhale to Prepare, Exhale to Power Before a lift, a lunge, or a leap: inhale. During the exertion: exhale sharply. It stabilizes the core and fuels the movement. 2. Nasal Breathing for Endurance Breathing through the nose warms, filters, and regulates airflow. It also activates the diaphragm more fully, which means deeper, more efficient breaths. 3. Box Breathing for Recovery After a tough set or a cardio burst, I use this: Inhale for 4 counts Hold f...