hecubus says:

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to belly breathe? I've been trying to belly breathe but I keep reverting to chest-breathing.

 Joggersaurus says:

its only by practice that you will succeed. try laying on your back, rest one hand on your naval, and breath deeply concentrating on moving your hand first and fill your chest from there. it will take quite a bit of practice to do it automatically.

 kitnkabdl says:

New runner here - is belly breathing more helpful than chest breathing in running?

 hecubus says:

Lately, I've been getting stitches and I've read from several sources on the internets that belly breathing can alleviate them.

 WileBEERCoyote says:

It helps me instantly during running. Normally I am a chest breather. And this rhythm runs through the whole body. So my legs are normally in sync with breathing (double or triple that fast but in sync). That limits my speed, because I can do a higher rhythm with my legs but not with breathing.
With belly breathing I really need to concentrate while running (I am trying this for some weeks now. I have to admit being a slow learner). But belly breathing helps to breathe in one rhythm and run in a different, immediately faster rhythm. That is especially helpful for a slight downhill section in the run. I can just let the legs do their stuff while continue to breathe normally. It works for me.

 Joggersaurus says:

Basically chest breathing you only partially fill your lungs, with belly breathing you can fill your lungs. try it when going up hill hard.

 John Vaughn says:

It's funny that "belly" breathing is actually the natural way to breath. When you sleep, this is how you breath. By taking a full, deep breath - breathing from the bottom (of the lungs) up you eliminate dead air in the lower lung creating more oxy for the body. I studied this and learned it from being a musician and it will help you in running (and playing the saxophone for that matter!). So, practice it, do it, and you will improve!

 hecubus says:

BTW, thanks to Joggersaurus for the suggestion on how to practice belly breathing!!

 Howie says:

like tring to pull the navel up through the stomach

 ripBEER says:

Until now I only did belly breathing when I wanted to relax before getting to sleep... How I trained for it? Laid down one hand on the chest the other on the belly. Challenge: Chest hand can't move :D Easy one :D

After reading this thread I'll have to try it 4 myself.

 CarrieR says:

You can really get good at it by putting heavier books on your belly instead of your hand. :-) Former flute player, here, and I used to do that a lot.

 Runningsam says:

I resort to this breathing during long intense runs. It helps me relax and gain control. I believe it's helpful for restoring my pace when things start falling apart. Practice, practice, practice! I force myself to do it on runs by pushing my stomach out and then filling it up with a deep breath, and exhaling by blowing out my mouth and forcing the air out by pushing my stomach muscles in. Good to practice on long slow runs. Don't know that it ever actually becomes "default," but I believe it makes a difference!

 buzylizy says:

belly breathing ( Diaphramatic breathing) is the normal way of breathing.... Imagine your lungs are like a balloon filling up with air..... when you blow into a balloon it fills up from the bottom first . imagine as you breath in a balloon filling up allowing ribs to move as lungs fill with air..
Something to remember IF WEARING bum bag/belt then the restriction it may have can make it more difficult to breath.

another excercise to practice deeper breathing is.
-stand with arms at side.
-as you breath in slowely raise arms sideways untill they are shoulder hight.......this helps the ribs move out and up and makes space for lungs to expand
- slowely lower arms as breath out.

CAUTION- taking too many deep breaths will make you light headed or dizzy...

hope this is helpful
B/L

 chakraboy says:

Retraining your breathing may take some time. This exercise is one I try to do myself and recommend to my clients.

Sit in a chair where you can hold on to the sides of the chair. Pay attention to your breathing and see if you are breathing from your chest or belly. Hold on to the side of the chair and either pull up or push down on the chair. Breath like this for as long as comfortable. When breathing becomes uncomfortable, stop and return to your normal breathing.

The idea of this exercise is to have the shoulder muscles, that are sometimes used during breathing, contract pushing or pulling on the chair. This forces your diaphragm to help you breath. I try and do this a couple of times a day when ever I think about it.

I hope this helps