If you're engaging in some "breath watching" (see "Breath is Everything" ) and experiencing what moves where during the inhalation and exhalation, you might be interested in meeting Bob.
Bob resides at Cathedral Grammar School in Christchurch, where I teach the treble cathedral choristers. He keeps an eye (literally!!) on us in the choir room from across the hallway in the science lab.
I like visiting Bob, because he reminds me that breathing isn't really about the chest and lungs at all. All that other amazing "stuff" underneath the lungs has to move down and outwards with every inhalation, then back again as we exhale.
If you carry tension in your lower abdominals and pelvic floor muscles, allowing the free movement of your internal organs as you inhale becomes compromised, and the breath can push upwards causing unwanted movement in the chest. Just try gripping your pelvic floor muscles hard (like you're trying to stop yourself having a terrible "bathroom disaster" 😳), pull your tummy in...and try to take a breath. Your internal organs have nowhere to go, so the lungs can't inflate. Now release all that tension, and all your internal "stuff" should be able to continue with its healthy ebb and flow.
More to follow, but in the meantime, please feel free to check out my YouTube channel - Lois Johnston Singing Tips - for free breathing videos and other singing resources.
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