The Body of Breath – A Physiotherapist’s Guide to Healthy Breathing with Michelle Edmison

As someone who’s deeply passionate about Pranayama, I couldn’t wait to bring this conversation to you. I sat down with physiotherapist Michelle Edmison to take a deep dive into the anatomy and function of breathing from both a clinical and yoga-informed perspective. Michelle breaks down complex ideas with such clarity and gives us practical ways to understand and teach breath in more effective, grounded ways. If you’re a yoga teacher or a breathwork enthusiast, this episode will absolutely shift how you see breathing in the body.

We covered everything from nasal breathing to rib cage mobility, pelvic floor engagement, core integration, and what “diaphragmatic breathing” really means. Michelle even walks us through some simple techniques you can bring into your own classes or practice right away. And if you’re a visual learner, I highly recommend checking out the YouTube version of this episode as she brings props like a ribcage model to life and it’s incredibly helpful!

The Body of Breath Episode Highlights:

• The physiological differences between nasal and mouth breathing and their impact on health
• How postural habits and upper body tightness disrupt effective breathing
• Strategies to release tension in the chest, shoulders, and neck to support optimal breathing
• The nuances of belly breathing vs. diaphragmatic breathing, and what these terms actually mean
• Core and breath integration explained through internal pressure systems
• The connection between the pelvic floor and breathing, and why everyone should pay attention to it
• The relationship between aging and breath quality, and why lifestyle may matter more than age itself
• How spine mobility influences ribcage movement and breath quality
• Michelle’s go-to breath practices to improve exhalation and core engagement

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Free movement and breath classes at: movement101.ca
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• Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube
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