The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that is between the lungs and your Ab’s. As you inhale this muscle will lower leading to an expansion of the abdomen. As you exhale the diaphragm rises up, which will move your stomach back inward. Whenever you feel stressed or anxious, check your breathing pattern. Diaphragmatic breathing will relax your sympathetic nervous system (responsible for fight & flight) while stimulating the parasympathic (responsible for rest and digest) through the Vagus nerve. Diaphragmatic breathing will in turn slow the heart rate, facilitate digestion, & calm the body. Chest Breathing is more of a shallow breathing style, often associated with emotional or physical stress. Side effects with this type of breathing includes, weakening of the diaphragm, a speeding heart rate, & overuse of accessory muscles such as the pec’s, scalenes, & sternocleidomastoid. *Note- the dumbbell is used as a resistance cue to activate the diaphragm, it is NOT meant to challenge the diaphragm from activating. Modern life stimulates the sympathetic nervous system far too often, leading to overdrive. Check your breathing pattern, stimulating the Vagus nerve will control your stress.
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