by James J Hooper

(Copyright 1998 - All Rights Reserved)

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This manual and associated products are general information products only.

This information should be used only under consultation with a register physician.  Do not alter any medication or treatment without proper medical advice.

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1.  What is “Depth of Breathing”? We will cover this briefly in this chapter before going into the technique for children. 

As it is the cause of some conflict in people who have already learned “abdominal” breathing. When I refer to how “deeply” you breathe, I am not referring to where in your body you breathe. I am not referring to your “lower belly” moving when you breathe, or your “upper chest”. I am referring to the length of time each breath takes.

If it takes a long time, it is a deep breath. If it takes a shorter time, it is “less deep”. Of course this is reflected in the anatomy of where you breathe as well. A deep [long] breath usually means that have used the lower part of your lungs, and a shallow breath [short] MAY mean that only your upper chest moves.

The reality is that what part of your body moves when you breathe is a result of the position of your spine rather than anything else. For example, sit in a slumped position and breathe normally, noticing what part of the area below your neck moves. Usually, you will see your upper chest and rib-cage doing most of the work. Now, sit up straight and fold your arms behind your back [the reverse of folding your arms in front!], breathe normally without forcing your breathing. Usually, you will see that more movement is lower down — in your belly so to speak.

Notice now that if you stay in this postition and take very small, short breaths [“mouse breathing” which you will learn shortly], it will still be your belly area that moves — not your chest! So you will be “abdominal” breathing “shallowly”.

So do not worry about which part of your body moves when you breath — the movement is the result of something rather than what you should try to do. Go to page 68