One side effect of shallow breathing is low back discomfort and tightness. Over time, this habit can leave the lumbar spine and surrounding muscles and fascia feeling tight and inflexible.

While the tendency might be to search for an external solution, like a massage, or a stretch, you already have a perfect solution built right into your body, and it’s working 24 hours a day.

Do you want to know the best part?

There’s no appointment necessary!

So who is this masseur/stretch therapist extraordinaire?

It’s your diaphragm.

You most likely know it as your breathing muscle, but your diaphragm doesn’t stop at breathing. With every breath, your diaphragm moves to help hydrate and nourish your spine to keep your lower back supple and flexible.

And when it comes to benefitting from this around-the-clock massage treatment, how you breathe matters.

In this video, you’ll learn my go-to exercise that generates breathing benefits from the top of your spine down to your lower back.

After you give it a try, I’d love to know how it goes. Make sure and tell me in the comments below.

With a hydrated and supple spine,
Sydney

P.S. My absolute favorite part of this exercise is the self-agency it gives and how great it feels afterward!

If self-agency is something you’d like more of when it comes to feeling better in your body, stay tuned. I’m working on a couple of things I think you’re going to love!

P.P.S. – Be sure to combine the exercise in today's post with the breathing concepts I demonstrated here in The Hidden Connection Between Back Pain and Breathing.