Hi,
I enjoyed reading your book, and I was kind of curious about the section on the inner corset and your chest moving during breathing. I thought breathing from the diaphragm was the best way of breathing: http://www.cchs.net/health/health-info/docs/2400/2409.asp?index=9445 <--I've seen similar info before, which seems to emphasize moving the stomache instead of the chest. Is diaphragm breathing just for a different purpose or have I misunderstood the mechanics?
Thanks
Breathing while engaging corset
April 23, 2010 - 3:17pm | 4 posts
#1
Breathing while engaging corset
6 years 5 months ago
09/16/2008 - 4:29pm
7 years 7 months ago
02/18/2013 - 8:35am
I'm wondering if you have any insight into why I'm getting lightheaded any time I engage chest breathing, even when coupled with my belly breathing. It's quite instantaneous and extreme. I have good endurance while playing sports and otherwise have no ill effects from duress during respiration. Thanks!
1 month 3 weeks ago
06/12/2012 - 12:49pm
That sounds very dramatic, and I would hesitate to encourage you to continue attempting this without perhaps speaking to a physician first.
The one thing that comes to mind for me is that perhaps you are getting your shoulder and neck muscles involved in the chest breathing, and, if they are quite tight, they may be restricting blood circulation to your head.
You should NOT be forcing your breath into your ribs, and should not be using the muscles of your upper body to get it there. The goal is to relax your back and ribs, and build tone in your abdomen, so that your lungs naturally expand up and down, not out (in the abdomen). The lungs will expand in the direction of least resistance, like a balloon.
I hope that helps! Please let me know if you figure out anything, as I am very curious.
Abeja Judy Hummel
Gokhale Method Teacher
Mendocino, California