| I was working with someone recently who had a | | | | expression. After all, even an exhale is an |
| great deal of back pain. She was lying on her | | | | "expression" of air! In theater there is a saying, |
| side on the table and I was gently exploring the | | | | "The chest does not lie." This statement infers |
| area where her spine connected to her ribs. | | | | that your true emotional state is reflected in the |
| "What are you doing" she asked. | | | | carriage of your chest. Unconsciously, we are |
| "I'm exploring how your ribs move," I answered. | | | | both communicating as well as reading others' |
| She shot up and stared at me in disbelief. "My | | | | emotions in sometimes subtle, but sometimes |
| ribs are supposed to move?" She was | | | | large shifts in the chest. For the last 200 years, |
| incredulous. After she calmed down, I assured | | | | science and medicine insisted that the organs in |
| her that she moved her ribs all the time: bending, | | | | the torso are merely mechanical devices; pumps |
| reaching, twisting. They do all these marvelous | | | | and bellows that keep the human machine running. |
| movements without us ever noticing. But when | | | | And yet, we talk about someone walking around |
| back pain, shoulder pain, even neck pain strikes, | | | | with his chest "puffed up." Or having a "gut |
| we rarely think that it might have something to | | | | feeling." Neurotransmitters have been found in |
| do with the ribs. | | | | the stomach indicating that a "gut feeling" may be |
| While it's true that the bones of the ribs can look | | | | a kind of intelligence that informs the thinking |
| like a cage, it's an inaccurate image. Each rib can | | | | brain. The field of neurocardiology are prompting |
| move in relation to the others, coming together | | | | some to call the heart another brain, the seat of |
| and apart according to the activity. The bars of | | | | the emotional intelligence. While science may |
| a cage are immobile. For some people, this | | | | have forgotten, or misunderstood its importance, |
| "cage" becomes almost like a suit of armor, over | | | | our "kinesthetic sense" has always been there for |
| protecting parts of the trunk. Emotional trauma | | | | us to see as St. Exupery's Little Prince once said, |
| often affects breathing and posture, which causes | | | | "Not just with the eyes, but with the heart." |
| the ribs to seem almost stuck, leading to a vicious | | | | Here's a simple exercise. Find a neutral stance. |
| cycle of immoblization. My ribs are stiff, my | | | | Where is your chest right now? Is it pushed |
| breathing gets shallow. My breathing is shallow, | | | | forward or collapsed back? Walk around a little bit |
| my ribs move less, etc. That's when the ribs do | | | | and experiment with the position of your chest. |
| become prison bars! A student told me a story of | | | | Try expanding it, puffing it out. How does that |
| a faculty meeting at his school where someone | | | | affect the rest of your walk? How do you |
| had proposed a program he was uncomfortable | | | | feel? Sink your chest in and down, as if you had |
| with. "I sat there and folded my arms across | | | | pushed all the air out of your lungs. Walk around |
| my chest as I listened to the proposal. I don't | | | | a bit like this and notice what comes up. |
| think it's a habitual posture for me, but as the | | | | When you try an exercise like the above, it is |
| other teacher talked, I felt myself full of | | | | important to give yourself a little time to let the |
| resistance to his idea. All of a sudden I realized | | | | posture sink in. Many people are afraid to |
| that my arms were holding my chest so tightly | | | | experience different postures, especially in the |
| that I was barely breathing. I put my arms | | | | chest, because it interferes with our habitual |
| down by my sides and instantly felt more air | | | | posture, shaking up our self image. But what a |
| coming in. As my ability to breathe increased, I | | | | wonderful way to experience not only new |
| was literally better able to take in his idea, let it | | | | options for yourself, but how you might better |
| move around in me." | | | | understand others who carry themselves |
| A frozen rib cage interferes with freedom of | | | | differently from you. |