I am guiding a first-time private client through a series of breathing practices.

Her initial complaint is body-wide muscle tension that hasn’t abated despite weekly Pilates class and regular acupuncture sessions. Her tension is severe enough to interfere with her daily activities and also sleep. Through her line of work (as well as Pilates program) she is quite familiar with the different breathing patterns, and knows exactly what it is that we are after.

Yet, I notice something quite peculiar about her breathing; something that can be a very strong contributor to on-going tension that she complains about.

Here is what I ask her to do…