Side Body Stretches for Deeper Breathing

Do you sometimes find your breathing to be short and shallow? 

If so, it could be due to restriction in your side body from tight muscles. I've put together a three-part YouTube Shorts series focused on stretches and myofascial release techniques that target the muscles along the ribs: the intercostal muscles, serratus anterior, and latissimus dorsi. 

The Deep Breathing Series

• Part 1: Stretch Your Side Body with Bananasana

This gentle yin yoga pose provides a subtle lateral stretch of the obliques, intercostal muscles, and IT band to create space for deeper, fuller breaths.

[Watch Part 1: Bananasana]

• Part 2: Side-Lying Pose for Deeper Breathing This supported side-lying stretch uses yoga blocks (or a bolster for less intensity) to help expand your ribs for deeper breathing. This pose can help ease fascial tightness. Bring the block up towards your armpit to target the lats and serratus anterior. Avoid putting weight on the floating ribs.

[Watch Part 2: Side-Lying Pose]

• Part 3: Self Myofascial Release to Make Space for BreathUse this myofascial release technique to open up the side bodies for deeper breathing. You can do this technique with your fingers or thumb. Avoid the floating ribs and keep the pressure gentle enough that you don’t feel any pain – tenderness is okay as long as you can breathe into it.

[Watch Part 3: Myofascial Release]

Give these techniques a try this week and see how you feel. Are you able to take deeper, fuller breaths after one or more of these practices? Be sure to start gently and back off if you experience pain. 

Follow me on YouTube @fireflycommunityllc as I continue to share yoga videos and YouTube Shorts, including with tidbits I learned in the Myofascial Release Course I took this month. I'll be selling RAD tools soon, so let me know if you're interested in getting your own kit of myofascial release tools.