But breathing is inextricably linked to being alive. Oxygen is vital in many of our metabolic processes, like releasing the high-energy bonds of ATP to allow our muscles to function. The tides of breathing are directly related to the function of the nervous system- sympathetic and parasympathetic. And breathing is even intimately linked with how we are able to stabilize ourselves in an upright position and walk!
Well, to be more precise, the act of breathing is primarily driven by the diaphragm muscle. This muscle serves as the "roof" of the abdominal cavity and the "floor" of the thoracic cavity. The diaphragm assists the act of breathing by providing a pressure change to help air enter and exit the lungs. As we inhale, the diaphragm descends, flattening out. The intercostal muscles help the ribs expand, and the scalene muscles pull the rib cage from the top. Breathing is a 3-dimensional shape change! When the rib cage expands, it creates a lower-pressure environment and air flows from outside (higher pressure) to inside (lower pressure). On the exhale, the diaphragm ascends, the rib cage shrinks 3-dimensionally back toward the center, a higher-pressure environment is created and the air flows out again.
The diaphragm is also fascially connected to the psoas major muscle, following the "Deep Front Line"- down the adductor muscles to the arches of the feet, and upward into the muscles of the masseter and temporalis muscles (the jaw and the temples). Sue Hitzmann refers to this structure as the "Neuro Core" and claims that this structure is the deep stabilizing structure of the body. Using the proprioceptive function of the fascia, these muscles are (or should be) the body's first line of reflex stabilization. If this structure is compensated or compromised, it shifts this stability role outward to more superficial structures. Basically, the muscles that move us around then take over the role from the muscles that hold us up. Essentially, this is not bad news, but it does lead to a lack of stability and a decrease in the efficiency of movement.
Joanne Avison, author of Yoga: Fascia, Anatomy, and Movement says that graceful movement is efficient movement. Movement that is fluid is movement that is well-supported structurally from the inside out. Movement that is characterized by "clunkiness", "heaviness", or is "uncoordinated" can be thought to lack some underlying inner stability. The inner stability of the reflexive core, the muscles that give shape to our volume, have failed somehow and more superficial muscles must give up their pliability and mobility to play a supportive role.
A common compensation, hinted at by Tom Myers author of Anatomy trains, as well as Shultz and Feitis, authors of The Endless Web, begins with a restricted breathing pattern. Breathing assessments can be seen as assessments of the structure and function of the deep stabilizers, starting with the diaphragm. A natural, smooth, easy breath characterized by good movement of the lower back, lower abdomen, and floating ribs is a good place to start. These are the initial stages of what Tai Chi Master Bruce Frantzis calls "Longevity Breathing". The name "Longevity Breathing" is right on the mark. Breathing that displays good movement patterns on top of efficiently supported structure probably will help you live longer. The diaphragm is also fascially connected to the pericardium (the tissue around the heart), and there is evidence that efficient breathing patterns are beneficial to heart health. On top of that, relaxed easy breathing also reduces stress on the nervous system, helping to mitigate the effects of unconscious or stuck stress patterns (clenching the jaw, tense fingers and toes, etc.)
But the Tide of the breath goes beyond just a litany of health benefits and muscle names. The fact is that everything in the body is interconnected, interrelated, intertwined. Playing with and understanding the tides of the breath helps us appreciate the interrelatedness of our moods and our postures, our movement and our stillness, and our enjoyment of just being alive. Taking a deep breath feels good, no matter what! The joy of breathing and moving is a simple joy. You don't need to think or analyze- just go out and do it and feel it. Go out on a walk, and pay attention to the quality of your breath the whole time. Walk in such a way that you can keep breathing slowly and deeply. This way you can smile as you exercise and your breath can help carry you. Go do a yoga class (or even a free class online)- keep the stretches within a range of motion where the breath still moves freely and easily and feels good. Going too deep in a stretch or pushing too hard in an exercise will cause the breath to be "clunky" or strained and hence inefficient. Do Tai Chi and learn to coordinate the breath with opening and closing, rising and falling. Go lift weights and learn to use the diaphragm and deep stabilizer muscles to help balance you against the effort. Take tennis or karate and use the breath to generate force. Play with it, and learn to be sensitive to it, learn to "Ride the Breathing Body."
The breath can take your actions back to the center- the breath can help you find a balance of effort and ease. Pay close attention to it, for what you pay attention to you care about, and breath is life. Caring for your breath is an act of care, of concern, of love, for life itself.
