Trying to improve how you breathe? Stop belly breathing!

How many times have you heard the cue ‘breathe into your belly’?

The breath is a hot topic at the moment, and with Asthma Awareness Day this month, increasing reports of long Covid breathing difficulties, hayfever season upon us and numerous breathing apps, coaching and techniques popping up, I wanted to voice my thoughts on an overused and misdirected cue.

Our body has a primary muscle for respiration, the diaphragm, not the belly!

Optimal breathing pattern:
• On inhalation, the lungs fill
• The diaphragm descends
• The rib cage expands to the front and back, and to both sides
• The pelvic floor descends

• On exhalation, the lungs empty
• The diaphragm rises
• The rib cage moves in
• The pelvic floor rises

Watch this instructional video on how to move your breath out of your shoulders and belly, and into your diaphragm and lower ribs

You just need to find a theraband, stretchy leggings or pair of tights to lightly tie round your lower ribs!