15/09/2021
The importance of breathing
Breathing is the first and last thing we do in life. The diaphragm, aside from being the prime mover in breathing, is also a postural muscle of utmost importance and has an immense effect on most of the body systems: cardiorespiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive, musculoskeletal, lymphatic, genitourinary, etc. By training the diaphragm through our breathing techniques, we are affecting the entire body.
In Hypopressives training, 3-D breathing is done by increasing ribcage expansion. The participants are encouraged to increase proprioceptive awareness of their breathing and visualise “opening” the ribcage to allow more air to enter and exit the lungs while not raising the shoulders to involve the thoracic outlet an activate the sympathetic response. They are taught to use their hands on the ribs to “feel” the thoracic expansion and contraction and learn how to control the duration of the respiratory cycle (inhale and exhale).
The thoracic diaphragm works as a pump that affects the other diaphragms of the body, especially the pelvic diaphragm, also known as the pelvic floor. So, while working on ribcage expansion on the inhale, we are also working with abdominals (our expiratory muscles) on the exhale. Here we use the Hypopressives uplifted breathing technique. Once this technique is consolidated, we can add the expiratory apnea with results that are immediate and effective.
