breathing uncovered

The innate ability to discover more…

It is through the fundamental process of breathing & developing conscious awareness we can attain information about what may or may not be occurring within our body.

 In simple terms we take an inhale through the nose & we exhale through the nose or mouth.

Mechanically, this is initiated by the inspiratory muscles the Diaphragm, and the External Intercostal muscles. This act allows for an increase in space of the thoracic cavity, allowing for an increase in lung volume. An increase in lung volume results in a decrease in the internal pressure. There is a change in volume from the lungs external to internal environment, allowing for air to move down the pressure gradient.

 Exhalation is the reverse action of this. As we prepare to exhale, our diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, recoiling if you will to return to their original size & shape. This results in changes to the environmental lung volume. Inside the lungs become greater than outside in the thoracic cavity, moving the air out.

 Through many variations on breath work, this change of environment for the lungs and thoracic cavity is a strength exercise. Like all muscles, we must work these actively and passively for greater understanding and improvements. Passive breathing is what we do mostly unconsciously, it is not until we start actively practicing conscious breathing that we can develop a deeper understanding of the power we possess in breath work.

 An example of improved breath awareness came about during an inquiry from a client, Howard, a classical musician, and educator. We have been working together for about 5 years, Howard has always been a curious student & often came to me with ideas and questions about how we can identify, adapt & consciously adjust more and more of the day-to-day automatic activities with the more conscious living activities. For instance, navigating throughout the day’s tasks & playing the Cello in front of 2000 people!!!!

 So, we took a look at what was going on during a Cello session, whether it was Howard’s own personal practice & recording, teaching students, or levelling-up in posture, Howard was keen to make a change for the greater good.

After watching Howard play his Cello over zoom, and linking some common postural complaints we have been unpacking throughout our time together, we discovered some holding patterns that were possibly keeping Howard’s physical body from meeting his innate self-awareness. It was here we could really make sense of the reconnecting mind, body, self.

 I asked Howard to explore his breathing over the Christmas period and he came back to class, pretty pleased with his findings!!

 “What I have found useful recently is being able to access both Belly breath and Diaphragmatic/Intercostal breath- sequentially and independently. Systematically practicing this to have at my disposal while sitting, standing, lying, and walking, as well as combined with independent arm and leg movements without compromise or bracing, has been incredibly helpful.  I’ve found this can help break long-held non- ideal postural habits by creating mental and physical space to reprogram movement sequencing both in everyday life and my work as a performing musician.

In the past there have been situations - playing in front of 2000 people, or in front of a microphone for a recording where the next notes have to be perfect - where I have been in danger of getting physically stuck, or freezing certain movements. Consciously activating Diaphragmatic/intercostal breath in these situations has allowed me to observe my physicality at a healthy distance in the moment, despite the stress, and enabled me then to actually utilise the tools I know will get/keep me out of trouble. I most certainly will be adding this to the box of tricks and skills I teach my students!”

I want to acknowledge the depth in understanding here from Howard. His ability to really tap into his sensory feedback systems and allow for his body to ‘speak’ to him, is a skill hard to uncover. It is with gratitude I feel lucky to be able to provide a safe space to facilitate this innate self-awareness discovery process we all possess.

Kate.