Introducing...Your Ribs

Control center for the Breath

I have been teaching a lot of breathing this week so I thought I would round out the week with some insights that have made a difference.

Breathing is the key to coordination.  The more efficiently we breathe, the better we move.

The big question that needs to be answered, IMHO, is how can we regulate the breath.  We could micromanage this by looking at all of the muscles or we can go to the skeleton and identify the movement.

The answer is rib movement.  The 12 pairs of ribs that shape the upper half of your torso are the breath movers, your control center for breathing.  I could get into a lot of other breathing components but KISS - keep it simple!

Place your hands on the lowest ribs on the side of your body and breathe.  Notice the ‘up & out’ movement they make on the inhale seamlessly followed by the ‘down & in’ movement on the exhale.

Let’s find the upper ribs on the side.  Place your thumbs on these ribs in your armpit.  Notice how deep those ribs are to the outside of your arm.  Breathe!  Do you feel a similar movement path in the upper ribs?

We want all 12 pairs of ribs to participate in breathing.  If any are locked down, all are limited.  

Next incorporate awareness of your ribs as you create a sound, type a sentence, write on paper, or make a brushstroke.

Breathing is the key to coordination.

Be curious…