Breathing & Relaxation
Crocodile Breathing (Prone)
Awareness of breathing into the back and sides.
- Breathing
- Ribs
- Body awareness
- Relaxation
Purpose
Improve awareness of posterior and lateral rib-cage breathing and reduce accessory shoulder breathing.
Starting position
Lie face down with the forehead resting on stacked hands. Choose a comfortable position and skip this exercise if lying prone is unsuitable for you.
How to perform
Breathe calmly and notice the abdomen and lower ribs expanding gently into the floor and out to the sides. Exhale slowly and let tension release.
Breathing
Natural nasal breathing, or a comfortable 4–6 breaths per minute without forcing.
What to pay attention to
Keep the neck relaxed, avoid uncomfortable pressure and keep the breath easy.
Common mistakes
Shrugging, forcing deep breaths, holding the breath, and excessive lower-back extension.
Dosage
2–5 minutes.