why breathing is confusing?
Breathing Challenge - Midweek 2
Hey Team!
Why is breathing confusing?
When learning about breathing, students ask questions like:
am I bad at breathing?
if this is natural why is it so difficult?
how long will I need to work at this?
If it's any consolation, you can blame your parents. Seriously. We don't learn breathing (or any movement patterns for that matter), it's like we absorb them. It's a different type of inheritance.
For example, many members of my family are blessed with "the Smith waddle". It's just as attractive as it sounds. I can literally spot my sister from a mile away because of this.
To override this ingrained pattern, I've spent years working on my feet, my knees and my hips. It's gotten me out of chronic knee pain and relieved sciatica. (and that's just what I know about!) In other words, the effort was well worth it.
Your breathing is less obvious but more powerful and worth your attention. This is why we're doing the 21-Day Challenge. To pay attention and build a relationship with your breathing. Because awareness is how you nudge the system.
Here are a few reasons why your breathing might be confusing:
you were told to pull your belly back (suck it in!) during inhale
you were taught to draw your navel to your spine during dance, ballet, gymnastics, pilates, or yoga
you learned to "tighten" your core to protect your lower back
you're under stress, experiencing anxiety, or navigating overwhelm
your posture prevents the diaphragm from moving fully
the diaphragm is weak or tight
your pelvic floor is weak or tight
Most of us are under the influence of one of many of these. This is why breathing can be confusing (at first!) and why we need understanding (always!). So we included tutorials to help you Fall in Love with Your Breathing.
Dr. Andy Sabatier teaches the Basics of Breathing where you'll learn what it means and how to see breathing from your diaphragm first.
In the tutorial with me, you'll learn how functional breathing speaks to yoga asana. (if you're wondering about Ujjayi and the Bandhas, watch this. )
Erika Belanger teaches Breathing with a Sensitive Nervous System (consider yourself an HSP? this is for you!)
Even if you don't make the live guided breathing practices, the Challenge has a lot to offer. Start with the Tutorials. This won't be free forever!
May your breathing bring clarity,
Alison
