Breathing Into Your Back Body

Take a rolled up blanket and place on top of your thighs and then come into a child's pose (so that the blanket is between your belly and thighs). For a more accessible option, sit in chair! Simply take deep, ocean wave like, breaths as if the internal waters of your body begin to create a smoother current. (We can chat lymphatics a different day!) Culturally, our bodies are craving much more posterior (back body) expansion due to the fact that we are sitting so often and chronically breathing shallowly which results in an over dependence of our chest, neck + shoulders! This shape allows for increased air flow into the posterior ribs, massages the respiratory diaphragm AND signals to the parasympathetic nervous system that surrounding musculature can lay down their guarding armor. Don't get mad at your body for guarding, by the way. This is an evolutionary and brilliant response. I recommend for all who inhabit human bodies who experience sensations including back discomfort, shallow breath, anxiety, headaches + jaw tension, cramps (I have endometriosis) and generally if you just live inside a human body!

You know how satisfying a FULL yawn feels? Think of this as a truly accessible yawn for your spine!