Taking Out the Slack in Our Breath

Taking out the slack in our breathing invites us to slow the breath down, allowing it to become more even and continuous, seamlessly connecting the inhale and exhale through the pauses between them. We bring conscious attention to the ribs as they move down and in on the exhale in a graceful arc, and out and up in a complementary arc on the inhale. Simultaneously, we can focus on the movement of the diaphragm: pressing up and in to expel air during the exhale, then spreading down and wide on the inhale, drawing air deeply into the lungs.

By attending to these inside and outside movements together, we can tune into the smooth, lovely arcs of the ribs and the inside movement of the diaphragm—two opposite yet harmoniously interwoven motions.

Breathing in, widen. Breathing out, lengthen. A continuous, flowing cycle: in and out.