Our chest muscles can get tight and strong, overpowering our back muscles. They draw our shoulder blades forward, leading us to hunch forward.
When you open and expand your chest muscles, you release your breathing and take the pressure off your back. We will pay attention to the origin of our pectorals muscles in the center of our chest, along the sternum.
Time needed: 3 minutes
How to massage your diaphragm for easier breathing:
- Hold your arms out to the sides. Feel your chest open wide. Breathe, feeling your chest expand.
- Place your fingertips on your chest. Take a moment to feel. Notice the ridges of your ribs and the texture of your sternum. Let your fingers slide between your ribs, into the dips. As you explore the landscape of your sternum, you might notice your breath easing and softening.
- Bring your fingertips to the center of your chest, in the middle of your sternum. This is the origin of your pectoral muscles. Take a moment to feel the subtle movement of your chest as you breathe low into your body.
- Circle your fingertips in alternating circles up and down your sternum.
- Feel the textures of your chest muscles as you circle your fingers.
- Draw your fingers outward, from center to shoulders. As you do this, your chest muscles stretch and lengthen.
- Feel your chest widen and loosen with your touch. Notice the expansiveness of your breath. Let your throat soften as your neck lengthens.
For the complete program on how to give yourself a wonderfully relaxing, full body self massage, check out our NatureBody™ Transformation.