| Breathing Some workshop notes |
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| Breathing involves over
104 joints and 60 muscles. |
| Breathing evolved as we subjected
ourselves to the full force of gravity and atmospheric pressure. Therefore,
posture and breathing are one, in a form and function context. Posture and breathing
are inextricably linked. |
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| Good breathing is good posture
and visa versa. |
| The movement of breath throughout
the body is one of expansion and contraction and naturally moves in all 6 planes
throughout the torso. However, it’s very common to only move in just a
few. The very common practice of reducing the number of planes of movement in
breathing has many implications, one of which is the displacement of weight
affecting balance. So, it’s common to see people hold their breath when
footing is precarious or on a narrow high path and in extreme cases reducing
oxygen to the brain causing dizziness.(A physical basis for a fear of heights, which is usually blamed on something
else of a psychological nature.) |
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| Posture Patterns
& Breathing |
| Imposing patterns, postures
and ideals on top of faulty modes of action will achieve little and probably
only serve to exacerbate the situation. Such a rich, dynamic, multilevel and
complex human function as breathing is poorly served by doctrine or how to techniques. Language, written or spoken is far too linear. It’s very
rare to see the entire rib case available for breathing (intercostal cooperation)
and most people use the rib case as part of their personality - to project their
social statement or mask into the world. We have large air bags in our chests
(lungs) and it would seem obvious that any type of bending or movement in general
will be greatly affected by whether these air bags are inflating or deflating
(breathing in or breathing out). |
| However, it’s rare to see
breathing well coordinated with movement or fully cooperating with intention.
The difference in regards to efficiency is astounding and the astonishing thing
is that almost no one notices! |
| With the multitude of structures
within the body related to breathing the quality and completeness of their function
will be largely proportional to the quality and completeness of being. |
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| Autonomic Nervous System
& Breathing |
| Breathing alters in response
to everything, our moving, heart rate, emotions, and even our thinking. These
changes in breathing come largely from our autonomic nervous system. It follows,
that to reorganise our breathing will give us some control or choice over our
autonomic nervous system functioning. When we are excited we generally have
slightly higher oxygen levels (in the blood) and when we are relaxed, slightly
higher carbon dioxide levels. The many different schools of meditation or breathing techniques can be divided into these two chemical conditions.
. The carbon dioxide/ oxygen balance also effects blood ph which, when
alkaline, leaves the muscles in a state prone to spasms and cramps. This can
result in all kinds of pain and discomfort. Working on the location of the pain
will give temporary relief at best but makes cure elusive. |
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| Three Diaphragms |
| We hold our breath for many
reasons one of which is to reduce sensations including pleasure! There are several
functional diaphragms throughout the body apart from the one the heart rests
on at the base of the lungs. In this workshop we will pay some attention to
the one at the very top of the chest and neck area and the one that is the pelvic
floor. The pharynx/thoracic diaphragm affects the quality of the voice, the
efficiency of coughing, sneezing, swallowing and so on. Anything to do with
movement of liquids and gasses in and out, up and down. The pelvic floor diaphragm
functions to control the movement of liquids, gases, elimination and many aspects
of sexual function. Without the pelvic floor being available to function as
a diaphragm, if it is being fixed or held, incontinence and or constipation
issues along with sexual and pleasure problems are more than likely to occur.These
three diaphragms work together as a pumping station. The qualities of your voice,
continence and sexuality obviously have a large influence on your quality of
living for your whole life. |
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| Breathing as a Social Function |
| Breathing is a social function.
We shift our breathing patterns, rate, rhythm, depth, frequency and physical
locations in response to the people around us. To vary from this too much has
an alienating effect. It can cause us to misfit (usually well below our conscious
awareness), this phenomenon is shared by all mammals who live in groups, tribes
or herds. |
| With so much involved with breathing
words are not particularly useful and imposing techniques from a conscious stand
point will do little if anything to improve the situation. The explorations
and experiences we will engage in during this workshop are to offer your nervous
system more and more options, so you may discover things that expand your quality
of expression and living — |
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| Breath easy....
600 million times in your lifetime |
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