Yoga Anatomy

Dynamics of breathing 7

three-Dimensional

Shape Changes

of Breathing

Because the lungs occupy a
three-dimensional space in
the thoracic cavity, when this
space changes shape to cause
air movement, it changes shape
three-dimensionally. Specifi-
cally, an inhalation involves
the chest cavity increasing its
volume from top to bottom,
from side to side, and from
front to back, and an exhala-
tion involves a reduction of
volume in those three dimen-
sions (see fi gure 1.7).
Because thoracic shape change is inextricably
linked to abdominal shape change, you can also
say that the abdominal cavity also changes shape
(not volume) in three dimensions—it can be
squeezed from top to bottom, from side to side,
or from front to back (see fi gure 1.8). In a living,
breathing body, thoracic shape change cannot
occur without abdominal shape change. That is
why the condition of the abdominal region has
such an infl uence on the quality of our breathing
and why the quality of our breathing has a power-
ful effect on the health of our abdominal organs.

Figure 1.7 E5267/Kaminoff/fig1.8/417556/alw/pulled-r2Three-dimensional thoracic shape changes

of (a) inhalation and (b) exhalation.

a b

E5267/Kaminoff/fig1.9/417557/alw/pulled-r

Figure 1.8 Changes in abdominal shape during
breathing: (a) inhalation as spinal extension and
(b) exhalation as spinal fl exion.

eXpanDeD Definition of BreathinG

Based on the information we have so far, here’s an expanded defi nition of breathing:

Breathing, the process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs, is caused by

a three-dimensional shape change in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Defi ning breathing in this manner explains not only what it is but also how it is done.
As a thought experiment, try this: Substitute the term shape change for the word breath-
ing whenever discussing the breath. For example, “I just had a really good breath” really
means “I just had a really good shape change.” More important, “I’m having diffi culty
breathing” really means “I’m having trouble changing the shape of my cavities.” This con-
cept has profound therapeutic implications, because it tells us where to start looking for
the root causes of breath and postural issues, and it can eventually lead us to examine the
supporting, shape-changing structure that occupies the back of the body’s two primary
cavities—the spine, which is discussed in chapter 2.

a b