| Cigar smoke can have a nice ring to it, if you know | | | | here comes the tricky part: the actual act. One of the |
| how to puff. Many people spend years trying to | | | | most important factors in blowing smoke rings is to |
| perfect the art of blowing smoke rings, looking calm, | | | | blow into still air. Blowing into the wind is about as good |
| cool, collected and like you're smoking donuts. | | | | an idea as spitting into it. Another highly important |
| However, smoke rings don't come without patience; it's | | | | factor is the density of the smoke: the thicker, the |
| an art form that many people practice, but only the | | | | better. |
| persistent can perfect. | | | | After drawing smoke into your mouth, let your lungs fill |
| While you don't need to stretch a quad muscle or | | | | up, open your mouth slowly, making the "O" shape |
| massage a hamstring before attempting to blow | | | | mentioned above. Curling the tip of your tongue down, |
| smoke rings, there are three parts of your body that | | | | pull it all the way back, like forming a sling shot for |
| you need to place focus, as each part plays a | | | | smoke rings. |
| significant role in the ring of the smoke. | | | | To blow out the smoke, don't simply exhale. Allow your |
| The Lips: They ain't just for chapstick anymore. The | | | | diaphragm to contract, but only let a small amount of |
| lips need to form an "O" shape, the kind of shape a | | | | smoke escape and push the smoke out with your |
| person would exhibit while saying the word, "oooh." | | | | tongue. It's best to do this in short bursts. The motion |
| Keep the "O" shape fairly loose, not puckering it like | | | | should be really relaxed, like a sedated frog trying to |
| you would to give a kiss; you're not actually making out | | | | catch a fly. Drop your jaw, as if in shock at the beauty |
| with the cigar smoke, you're just friends. | | | | of your smoke rings, while keeping the "O" shape of |
| The Diaphragm: One of the body's most important | | | | your mouth. The sound your throat makes should be a |
| muscles, the diaphragm controls a person's breathing. In | | | | short gasp, like a subtle grunt. Once you've made this |
| order to blow smoke rings, you need to be in complete | | | | sound, close your epiglottis, creating a small air pulse |
| control of your diaphragm. Control of it allows you to | | | | from your lungs, up your throat, and out your mouth. |
| create an air pulse, which will ultimately result in a ring. | | | | Blowing smoke rings isn't easy. It takes a lot of |
| The Epiglottis: Not to be confused with the furry | | | | practice and a lot of improvisation; you need to figure |
| character from Sesame Street, the Epiglottis is the | | | | out the way that works best for you. However, once |
| flap of cartilage behind the tongue and in front of the | | | | you've practiced the art form, smoke rings become |
| voice box. During movement, it folds back to cover the | | | | much easier, and can come as easily as breathing |
| entrance to the voice box, and prevents food and | | | | itself. And, if frustration overcomes you and you simply |
| drink from going down the wrong tube. | | | | cannot nail the art, just relax, stay calm, and have |
| Now that you know what body parts to focus on, | | | | another cigar. |