3 ms·

I don't get it, can you explain it in simple terms.

• nprateem 2y ago
  Taking relaxed, full (as in makes your entire ribcage expand) breaths is super relaxing, activating the parasympathetic nervous system. But previously whenever I tried to take a relaxed breath, either all the air would fill the bottom of my lungs making only my belly expand, or I'd use my intercostal muscles to expand my mid and upper ribcage, but that wasn't super relaxing. If you breathe first allowing the lower lobes of your lungs to fill so your belly expands a bit, but then draw the transverse abdominis below the navel back to the spine, you can continue to inhale but the breath will cause the ribcage to expand from bottom to top as well (and the abdomen above the navel will expand too). Since you're not using the intercostal muscles it's very relaxing. It also allows the breath to expand in all directions, including at the back. The diaphragm then applies a gentle pressure to the adrenals. I recommend reading the book for more info. It makes breathing so pleasurable you just want to keep doing it.