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This week, try NOT breathing.

Often times when I ask new clients or students to take a breath, I see a forced inhale that fills up the upper chest, causes constriction in the lungs, and takes force to exhale.

Is this you?

If so, I want you to try NOT breathing, and instead, I want you to start allowing.

Let me explain.

First, a quick anatomy review:

I’ve talked before about how the diaphragm, a muscle in your body that controls breathing, looks like a jelly fish swimming to the ocean floor...

This amazing muscle expands the base and circumference of your thoracic area (ribcage). When you inhale, the diaphragm is meant to expand fully in a 360 degree manner in order to pull air into your lungs. When you exhale, the diaphragm contracts up into your ribcage and pushes air out of your lungs. In short, your diaphragm breathes FOR YOU.

It’s no coincidence that patterns in your body also appear in other areas of your life.

If you are finding it hard to allow your diaphragm to breathe for you, ask yourself these questions:

Are you also doing too much in your life in order to force things or relationships to work?

Do you believe you have to take on extra work that leaves you feeling burnt out and unhappy?

Is trusting in yourself something you struggle with?

When you take over your breathing instead of allowing your body to do it for you, you are forcing extra work for your body. When you let go and allow your breath to happen, you’re inviting trust and alignment into your system.

Your body can be a tool for what is possible in day-to-day life. Use your body to learn the lessons your life is craving.  

I hope this video helps you find easeful and optimal breathing...



Quick Body Tips

Two weeks ago I talked about my case against standing desks and how breath is a powerful. Connect in with that power through these quick body tips:

  1. Check in with your alignment. When your ribcage is floating directly over your pelvis in a neutral spine then your diaphragm is able to move and function optimally.

  2. Notice if you are only breathing “to the front.” Does your ribcage splay forward to make room for an inhale or are you able to expand your ribcage to the front, side, and back?

  3. Try a few moments of letting go of expectation when it comes to breathing. See if your body will fall into a flow of inhaling and exhaling without force. As long as you are still here on earth and are healthy and able, your body will ALWAYS breathe for you. See how it feels to check in with the natural rhythm of your breathe when you aren’t adding force or expectation. Add a little bit of sweetness by offering gratitude for your body that breathes for you, without question, all day long.

    Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I always love hearing from you! And if you want to see more videos and Body Tips then follow me on Facebook for weekly posts! 

all my best,




 


 

 
 
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