Evgenia (Jenny) Haugen, RMT - Registered Massage Therapist & Craniosacral Practitioner
Breathing is a natural process of our life. We intuitively breathe in and breathe out, and we are barely even aware of it. The normal respiration rate for an average person is 12-20 breaths per minute while at rest. Take a minute and think about your breathing. Are your breaths long and relaxed or are they shallow, short and constricted?
Constricted and short breathing can be a sign of anxiety or stress. It can also be due to respiratory problems such as bronchitis, sinusitis, emphysema, asthma or allergies. The problem is that the muscles around the rib cage, abdomen and accessory muscles of the neck and chest may become tight which makes breathing more difficult.
Massage therapy plays an important role in improving breathing and helps to decrease the tension in respiratory muscles. When these muscles are chronically shortened and tight, massage techniques can help to relax and lengthen the muscles. Massage also helps the breathing muscles work together and improves the quality of the breathing cycle which leads to better lung ventilation.
Massage therapy can not only improve your breathing, but it can also improve your posture. With high stress levels and sitting for long periods of time, muscles become tight and cause poor posture. The proper posture opens the chest area and expands the rib cage which is needed for proper lung function.
Let our massage therapists at Wellness for the Body take care of you and help you to breathe deeper and more relaxed.