The Body of Breath - A Physiotherapist’s Guide to Healthy Breathing with Michelle Edmison

As someone who's deeply passionate about Pranayama, I couldn’t wait to bring this conversation to you. I sat down with physiotherapist Michelle Edmison to take a deep dive into the anatomy and function of breathing from both a clinical and yoga-informed perspective. Michelle breaks down complex ideas with such clarity and gives us practical ways to understand and teach breath in more effective, grounded ways. If you're a yoga teacher or a breathwork enthusiast, this episode will absolutely shift how you see breathing in the body.

Episode Highlights:

• The physiological differences between nasal and mouth breathing and their impact on health
• How postural habits and upper body tightness disrupt effective breathing
• Strategies to release tension in the chest, shoulders, and neck to support optimal breathing
• The nuances of belly breathing vs. diaphragmatic breathing, and what these terms actually mean
• Core and breath integration explained through internal pressure systems
• The connection between the pelvic floor and breathing, and why everyone should pay attention to it
• The relationship between aging and breath quality, and why lifestyle may matter more than age itself
• How spine mobility influences ribcage movement and breath quality
• Michelle's go-to breath practices to improve exhalation and core engagement

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Michelle’s Instagram: @mvmt.101
• Free movement and breath classes at: movement101.ca

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