Massage & Bodywork

MAY | JUNE 2022

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BREATH IS THE MOST NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT ELEMENT REQUIRED FOR LIFE. We can survive without food for over a month and without water for about a week, but we can't survive without breath for more than a few minutes. Breath is the bridge to interconnectedness—to ourselves, to others, and to the universe—and is considered by many as an extension of spirituality. People, animals, and plants all breathe, and since all forms of life are connected to each other, then our entire planet, as one organism, is constantly breathing. With this in mind, let's look at how we can increase awareness of our breath, and how we can work with the breath of others in dynamic bodywork. Breathing patterns and breathing techniques are commonly taught in conjunction with yoga, physical Breath in Bodywork The Key to Ease and Grace By Bob Haddad training, weight lifting, martial arts, swimming, running, and other body movement activities, yet breathing awareness is largely absent from many training programs in massage and bodywork. Consequently, many massage therapists, physical therapists, and other bodyworkers have minimal awareness of their breath as they work, and not enough attention is paid to the breathing patterns of those they work with. A heightened awareness of breath is essential for any type of massage or movement therapy, and it is especially critical in floor-based dynamic modalities such as traditional Thai massage, shiatsu, and others. When commonsense breathing concepts are applied to any physical movement, quality and ease are enhanced. The concepts presented here are offered as an attempt to help to bridge that gap and encourage a deeper awareness of breathwork for professional practice. L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 55 K ATHERINE HANLON/UNSPL ASH

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