When we’re over-efforting we usually use too much muscle, and both function and musical expression can get squeezed. We can use breathing as a barometer. Breathing is a fundamental function, but it often gets interrupted when you’re nervous or using more effort than you need. This can affect freedom of movement, timing and musical expression. … More Are you holding your breath?
What if it’s not really useful to breathe into the belly? When they tell you to breathe into the belly, most people actually mean diaphragmatic breathing. Belly breathing is a version of it at least: to access the lengthening of the lungs as well as outward expansion. But that’s not always the only effect. The … More Belly breathing: A hidden cause of back pain?
It’s Moshe Feldenkrais’ birthday week, and International Feldenkrais Week! How many candles can you blow out? Moshe talked and wrote a lot around breathing and the breath. Let me share one thing to notice around the breath, if you’re teaching, but also if you’re talking to someone with a different point of view. If someone … More Breathing for Calm
When we are anxious it affects our breathing. It becomes shallower, faster. We hold our chest still. Then the ribs can’t move with the breath. Often we’ll hold the low chest muscles, stopping the movements of the diaphragm. Again, stopping the lungs from expanding. Very useful if we want to pretend we’re dead whilst a … More Breathing and Anxiety
