As a massage therapist your breathing gives me insight into your posture and possible causes of your tension and discomfort.
There’s a reason for the ABC’s of First Aid – Airway, Breathing, Circulation – breathing is right up there because if we don’t we die! We all breathe and we generally do it without too much thought. Yet, what happens when our breathing patterns become altered?
Our breathing muscle, the diaphragm, should be working 80-90% whilst our body is at rest. It forms the top of our ‘core’ muscle group (attaches to the inner rib cage, inserts into the upper lumber spine and interlaces with the lower abdominals and hip flexors) making it integral for spinal stability. An ineffective diaphragm effects your nervous system and other muscles.
Normal breathing rate for adults at rest should be 10-14bpm, in and out through the nose with tummy rising and falling. Too often it’s the chest and shoulders rising, this type of breathing uses the accessory muscles around the neck and shoulders thus creating rounded shoulders, forward chin and tightness across the chest.
By not using your diaphragm to breathe you become prone to injuries, increased chest, neck and shoulder tension and disorders such as shoulder impingement or neck pain.