Andy Bassuday: Asahi and Breathing Techniques for Public Speaking

Andy Bassuday is a Canadian based in Helsinki. He is a very experienced Realtor, Speaker, Entrepreneur, and more recently, a Certified Asahi Instructor. Currently, he also serves as President of Northern Stars, the only Advanced Toastmasters club in Finland.   What Asahi is Asahi means “morning sun” in Japanese. “You want to start the day feeling alive.” Asahi is a Finnish concept, designed and developed in Lauttasaaren Liikuntakeskus, a gym in Helsinki. Asahi is a health exercise developed by researcher Timo Klemola, Dr. Yrjö Mähönen, trainer Ilpo Jalamo and chief executive, trainer Keijo Mikkonen. Asahi comes from the martial arts. How speakers benefit with Asahi Asahi has three main elements: breathing, mind and movement. In speaking, two elements must be focused: voice and body. Asahi helps you to be focused, to have awareness, to connect with your audience, and to be relaxed. The importance of breathing You always have to warm up. The voice is a wind instrument. You are breathing 14 times per minute, 20 thousand times per day. Asahi helps speakers to develop proper breathing. Most people don’t breathe properly, and do chest breathing instead of abdominal breathing. The breathing leads the movement. You breathe first and then you speak. “You don’t speak first and then try to catch your breath later.” Favorite quotation “The great end of life is not knowledge but action.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Recommended book The Bible Routine to Shine A breathing exercise. First, stand up well grounded with a nice, relaxed posture. Next inhale deeply, fill your stomach with air. Wait a couple of seconds. Finally empty the lungs from the bottom up, squeezing your belly. Repeat that cycle for few minutes, every day. Links and contact information Asahi website Andy Bassuday PR Lauttasaaren Liikuntakeskus Heikkiläntie 4, 00210 Helsinki +358 45 124 3128 email: [email protected] www.liiku.