Daily Maestroism

DM #323

Tuesday, April 11th, 2017

DM #323: Circumferential expansion folks. That's what we're looking for.
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Now, you guys know that I'm all about breathing, but there's more to it than belly breathing. There are million different ways to work on breathing, and typically my main goal is simply to make sure that my patients are able to shift their breath out of their neck and chest.
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You don't have to take huge diaphragmatic breaths all the time. For some folks, that is not an ideal position to be in in based on their demands of their job, recreational activity, etc. Dancers aren't trying to have their bellies sticking out. I realize this. I just want to make sure that they are able to shift that breath down, and that they are breathing in their chest because they choose to, not because they have to.
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So, back to the diaphragmatic breathing. When we inhale, the diaphragm contracts and drops down to allow more space in the thoracic cavity for your lungs to expand. If all that moves is your belly, that means that you're not getting full expansion of that thoracic cavity. That's not what we want. You should be able to breathe into your sides, and into your back. Yes, into your back.
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When I demo it on social media and in class, yes I start with tactile cueing of the hands over the chest and the belly, but that's typically because this is the easiest starting point for patients. Eventually I want them to progress to being able to breathe into their side, and into their back. So please don't forget this, or assume that if you're able to move your belly, then you're perfect.
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Take home message: The bigger your move and arsenal, the more resilient you'll be. This includes breathing. Being able to direct the breath downward and get expansion of the belly is just part of the battle.
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