When the trainer asks
‘did you forget to breath’
it sounds stupid,
and unfortunately true.
A little like thinking
too much about the doing
so the thoughts twist knots
into your limbs.
The panic welling
in much the same way
as your lungs swelling up
against your rib-cage.
You were sure you were,
then you’re not sure,
suddenly so unsure
you can’t even breath
without counting
each gasp.
In…
out…
in…
in…
out..
out..
In…
In…
In…
Out…
Out…
Out..
…
Carol J Forrester - Writing and Works 
I like the description of not being sure whether one was aware of breathing or not.
This is excellent. There are times that we take breathing for granted.
Just breathe! A wonderful poem about being mindful.
we concentrate instead of focus and thus hold the breath – you describe the struggle so well
The change in the counting at the end really acted to slow my breathing down. Very effective.
i forget to breathe all the time. It should be impossible…
When my mind is too busy to allow me sleep, suddenly I become aware of my breathing, and find myself performing the same mantra.
When insomnia has got a stranglehold on my busy monkey mind, suddenly I am very aware of my breathing and find myself performing the same mantra.
Perhaps it is time for us all to exhale!
Those simple things, the ones we think of as automatic and coming naturally, are the ones we need to pay attention to. Oh, how familiar are the lines:
‘so the thoughts twist knots
into your limbs.
….
You were sure you were,
then you’re not sure,
suddenly so unsure
you can’t even breath
without counting
each gasp.’
I could feel the anxiety of counting breaths with you!