Anatomy of Breath

In my teaching, I never separate inner awareness from precise physical anatomy. The nose acts as the thermal conditioner and gatekeeper of inhaled air; the diaphragm is the prime engine of vitality, and the rib cage expands three-dimensionally. When the abdomen is tense and the upper chest rigid, breathwork collapses into shallow tension.

Always breathe through the nose. Keep the facial muscles soft, teeth gently parted, and the tongue resting against the roof of the mouth. The shoulders remain still as breath expands downward and outward.

Exercise — The Three Planes of Complete Breath

Integrating Abdominal, Thoracic, and Clavicular Expansion

Place one hand on your lower belly and one on your lower ribs. Inhale slowly, letting the abdomen soften forward, then widening the lateral rib cage, concluding with a subtle upward movement beneath the collarbones. Exhale smoothly from top to bottom. Practice 5 to 8 slow, fluid cycles.