Before we begin, I should make it clear that I am not a physician, nor am I a personal trainer. Also, I am not a New York Yankees fan, much of a Hanna-Barbera buff, or a yoga instructor. Now, with those formalities out of the way, let us cut to the chase.
One of the more popular things discussed amongst nascent premium tobacco imbibers, particularly cigar smokers, is what happens before tolerance kicks in and you find yourself 'green' or 'sick.' A big part of this malady is light-headedness, it seems. Why even I occasionally find myself, a life-long lightweight and long-time smoker, up against some brawny blend and slo-mo sliding to the floor under my desk where a fetal position is most comfy. Or maybe it's quite more disconcerting than that, sometimes you get all on-edge woozy and that's not where you one bit want to be. Especially not whilst luxuriating over a good smoke.
The old tried and true spoonful of sugar is most definitely a cure. I've had and heard-of good results with a pip or two of chocolate or a spoonful of honey or peanut butter. But sometimes and however, I wonder about certain things. Other than the obvious delivery of nic-bomb to our blood systems that sugar off-sets, what else are we doing differently? Well, we're sitting still, but who among us isn't adept at that? What we're doing differently and what I wonder about, is breathing. Breathing, and more precisely, doing it in perhaps different patterns that might lend to discomfort. You see (bear with me) boxing is all about footwork.
It's sneakily almost as much about breathing. When you think of it, much of life is about breathing. Death, now that's all about not breathing. 'Whoever controls the breathing controls the fight,' is a probably bastardized version of an adage I've heard.
In boxing, that breathing comes in two shapes, in two sizes. In lulls between explosions, the tact is simply to breathe slowly. This can be practiced by skipping rope while inhaling and exhaling as long and measured as possible. During those explosive bits though, breathing is rapid. Not in a short, gasping, hyperventilation manner, of course--but in an IN outoutoutout IN outoutoutout IN sort of fashion. Bursts of exhalations from filled lungs. But how to fill our lungs? In a recent podcast of his (Gentleman Villain) William Regal gave this bit of advice. He said, and I paraphrase, to fill your belly with air through your nose and then keep going till you can't. Then stop. Hold it. Then take in a quick more snort or two to fill the top of those lungs.
Then blow it out your mouth. Try that. It does top you off quite well, indeed. As he warns though, and I can vouch for this, sit down when first practicing this because you'll more than likely get dizzy. Dizzy. Like when you get in over your head with a fine cigar and you ain't yet the finest smoker you'll perchance become. Or, maybe you're just as orchid-like as I am. Again, we are already sitting when we smoke, and definitely not sparring. We are in no threat of getting blown up or winded. But still, we are focused considerably more on inhaling than we are on exhaling. The exhale only takes center stage, in fact, via the retro-hale, and through the nose is a miserable manner in which to let loose air.
I should take a moment to say we, of course, do not inhale our tobacco into our lungs. Ever.
But we still breathe in, and I daresay with more emphasis than at any other point during our days. That's where the flavor is, where the aroma is found. That's fantastic, but breathing out is when relaxation occurs. Your heartbeat slows during exhaling. You ever greedily puff a stick or a pipe while trying to find that cocoa butter note that I wrote about in my review? Of course, you have. You must really go at it, I'd imagine. Often the stronger cigars are the ones with more flavor notes. I can see you now, chasing down that wild berry note you adore like a coursing hound, and blaming only the nic all the while. Breathe.
Breathe slowly and focus equally on exhaling. Maybe watch the smoke leave you and continue on-after blowing out as you do. People love watching smoke, it's a deep-seated human experience thing I'd imagine. A controlled string of smoke speaks to civilization and the burning of home fires therein--also house fires but don't think of that or you'll hyperventilate. Always carry homeowners insurance (I am not an insurance salesman or financial advisor). Actually, don't think of anything much at all, or that might become pre-occupying and distracting; not enjoyable. Also, don't think of a pink elephant.
Simply check, on occasion, that your lungs are empty. Give a quick purge through your lips between puffs, just as you'd purge a cigar with an erring profile. Especially do this if retro-haling copiously. Don't retro-hale copiously. If you do this to find notes, I'm willing to wager more will be found with a slower, more steady breath. As well as with a calmer mind.
My OCD loves square breathing, it's rhythmic and all about four; and four is a good number. If you get a bit lightheaded or are pre-emptively aware that you opted for stronger tobacco, maybe put your smoke down and breathe in for four beats at the half. Hold it for four. Breathe out for four beats. Hold it for four... Rinse and repeat. Always in through your nose and out your smoke-hole. Want something easier? An excellent reset is simply breathing out for about twice as long as you breathe in. Both of these exercises are simple, easy, and good for what and could ail(s) you--even away from your smoke, and the good news is that you don't need to trouble Pranayama.
Unless you want to be a Yogi, and I don't mean Berra or Bear. If nothing else, your practiced breathing should allow you to conceivably, with greater efficiency, run to that spoonful of sugar while cursing both my wondering and my once-good name. Remember, '[Smoking] is 90% physical and the other half is mental,' and always be 'smarter than the average bear.' Namaste.
::: very :::