Understanding breathingAuthor: 
Reetta Ronkko, Dance Health Finland Helsinki, Finland


Many dance teachers and body conditioning techniques underline the importance of breathing, but rarely explain why and exactly how it is done. The aim of this presentation is to give a short introduction to the physiology and functional anatomy of breathing: what can be voluntarily controlled and trained and what is controlled autonomously. The analysis of breathing movements will be done through biomechanical and kinesiological analysis, to help understand the visible actions of breathing. This knowledge is especially important for dancers, who often have unhelpful, even harmful, ideas and beliefs about breathing that may affect their posture and overall ability to control movement. It is important that also dance teachers and physical therapists working with dancers are aware of the common breathing habits among dancers to be able to correct them.


Tags: 
breath
breathing
physiology
posture
Localization: 
General article
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Author's Name: 
Reetta Ronkko
Date: 
29 May 2011

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