A good breathing technique is important for general functioning of the body, and so is a good habit to develop.(Getting sufficient air into your lungs and allowing time for efficient gas exchange between air and red blood cells, taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide to maintain healthy cell functioning.).
Breathing with your Base-Line will also help to build the connection between body and mind. Keep this simple technique in mind, practice it throughout the day.
Firstly, practice this:
Breathe in through your nostrils.
Breathe out through your mouth.
Find a comfortable breathing pattern. Steady, deep - but mostly, relaxed.
Feel the air flow through your nostrils and mouth as you breathe in and out.
Think of your body lengthening with every in-breath.
Feel for the relative positioning of your midline markers as you breathe in(starting from pubic symphyis to navel to xiphoid process). Imagine these points aligning and let yourself move - however feels natural.
Think of activating and extending your Base-Line each time you inhale.
Take as many breaths as you need to feel some activation and extension, from pelvis to chest.
Begin by contracting your pelvic floor muscles.
Your pelvic floor is the BASE foundation from where all movement should stem.
pelvic floor keeping it simple pelvic floor in detail
Then activate your rectus abdominis muscles.
The rectus abdominis muscles are the body's central LINE.They should be strong and flexible, supporting all movement.
Think of activating and lengthening these muscles, section by section, from pelvis to chest.
rectus abdominis keeping it simple rectus abdominis in detail
Use your hands over your rectus abdominis muscles and tap up the front of your abdomen as you breathe in. Imagine each pair of panels of muscle activating and extending in sequence, from pubic symphysis of the pelvis to your ribs.
Breathing with your Base-Line develops the connection between body and mind, allowing you to feel your posture and state of balance extending from midline.
Lengthening and strengthening your rectus abdominis muscles will increase awareness of relative positioning of your midline markers for body alignment and balance.
midline markers body alignment and balance
It takes practice to activate the right muscles if you are not used to using them - so keep trying. Look at the anatomy pages, picture the muscles in your mind. Touch them on your body.
I found it easiest to work on my breathing whilst standing (in a relaxed manner) or lying on my back.
Do whatever feels good for you.
As I focused on my activating my Base-Line I found myself adjusting my position so that my body was a little more aligned. Let yourself move as feels natural.
Closing off one nostril with a finger and breathing through the other nostril can increase the sensation of airflow, helping you to feel the positioning of your head in relation to your body. Then swap sides and feel for a difference.
It can take a long time to break old habits and learn to activate the correct muscles if you are not used to using them. Be aware of when 'the wrong' areas of muscle activate. If you feel this happening - relax, breathe and focus on your Base-Line once more. Little by little improvements are made.
Breathe with your Base-Line.
Stronger and longer with every in-breath.
Build the connection between body and mind.