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Foundations / L11

Breathing is a change of shape

Air moves because the container changes. Start there.

Instead of thinking of breath as air arriving, think of the thoracic and abdominal cavities changing shape and the air following. When the shape can change easily, the breath is easy. When a posture limits the shape change, the breath adapts rather than fails. This is why the same person breathes differently in a fold than in a backbend.

The movement lab in the full build

Open Child Pose, then Cobra. For each, say out loud where the torso can change shape and where it cannot.

This release does not implement this lesson’s full animation. Its behaviour is specified in the PRD and content data. Step controls will accompany every drag interaction.

Notice

Where is the room for this breath, and where has the room gone?

Guardrail: Breath material is study language, not breathing instruction or therapy. Do not prescribe breath holds, retention or bandha practice; a teacher in the room is the right place for that.

Source: KAMINOFF / DESIGN

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