Let’s talk 360° Breathing

If your "core" strategy is just bracing your abs and pushing your belly out, you’re missing the point of stability.

The Myth: "Belly Breathing." If only your stomach is moving, you are creating distension, not expansion. This doesn't provide true support for the spine.

The Fact: 360° Expansion. For a stable spine and a balanced nervous system, your entire rib cage must expand—including the lower ribs, the sides (axilla), and critically, your lower and mid-back. Stability comes from this intra-abdominal pressure expanding outwards like a balloon, not just front to back.

The Benefits:

✅ True Core Stability (improves lifting mechanics).

✅ Increased Proprioceptive Awareness (sharper "Body Map").

✅ Down-Regulates the Nervous System (instantly lowers stress).

✅ Protects the Lower Back (offloads the vertebrae).

How to Practice:

1. Lie down or sit tall. Place your hands around your lower ribs/waist.

2. Inhale slowly through your nose. Focus on pushing your hands OUT and pushing your lower back DOWN into the floor/chair.

3. Use feedback. If you don’t feel your hands moving out and your back moving back, you’re belly breathing. Exhale and try again.

   
   

Make this your foundation. Stop distending and start expanding.