Why deep breathing hasn’t work for you? (Here is what to do instead)
If you struggle with that, watch this video and learn how to increase your capacity for exhale with this single tool
We’re a generation stuck on inhalation, and we’ve lost the instinct to exhale.
What I’m about to share must sound obvious, but unfortunately it isn’t.
For years, the only breathing cue I picked up from the fitness world was to brace for heavy squats and deadlifts. That’s useful sometimes, but it isn’t practical for natural human movement.
Then I went down the rehab route, chiro, physio, all the “fix the pain” appointments. Nobody explained breathing mechanics.
Then I stepped into mindfulness spaces and heard “take a deep breath” over and over, which most people translate as “pull more air in,” with little attention on the exhale.
Teaching proper breathing mechanics is one of the most important parts of the foundation phase of my work with clients, because you already take around 20,000 reps a day. If we can optimize that, we get leverage for everything we do in later phases. This phase alone genuinely transformed my posture and the way I move through the world.
Your body creates stability by managing pressure and tension like a canister, with the diaphragm at the top, the pelvic floor at the bottom, and the abdominal wall all around. On an inhale, the diaphragm descends and the ribs and belly expand, ideally in a 360-degree pattern.
Then comes the part most people are missing. On the exhale, the ribs soften down and in, and the abdominals, especially the obliques, gain tone. This improves the stacking of ribs over pelvis. This is often the most stable position for transferring force or absorbing impact, like during mid-stance, standing up out of a squat, or pressing a weight overhead.
An invitation that applies to movement and life:
Exhale on the hard part.
If you struggle with that, watch this video and learn how to increase your capacity for exhale with this single tool:
💚 When you’re ready, here are three ways I can help:
Hire me for Live Experiences: immersive, interactive wellbeing events (virtual or in-person) that bring the body back into the conversation, helping your audience build mental + physical resilience through nervous system regulation, breathwork, and posture-focused practices.
Body Check-in: a 2-hour online session to assess your body’s current state, identify patterns and hidden imbalances (posture, breath, nervous system tone), and leave with a clear, personalized plan (plus 7 days of support after).
Discover Your Body’s Story (Free quiz): a 5-minute pause to understand what your body has been trying to tell you, especially if you feel “wired but drained,” stuck in a loop, or disconnected from your deeper embodied wisdom.
Thank you for joining me on the path of unconditioning,
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Hedi Shah
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👁️ Mindfulness Teacher & Bodyworker
🐉 Nervous system regulation, breathwork, and posture-focused strength training to target the cause of what keeps you stuck and in pain, not just symptoms.
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