The ribcage must be held expanded (open, or think of your sternum held high) throughout the breathing process; not in a tense way but with a balanced posture. It shouldn’t move during inhaling or exhaling (in an ideal world). Stomach muscles should be relaxed. The torso should be balanced so that front, side, and back muscles are in equilibrium. Inhaling should be part of the music. Inhale in tempo and in character. Never hold your breath. Inhaling and exhaling should feel like one circular motion. Think of a violin bow. Listen to the pitch of your inhale. It will tell you whether your throat is open (elongated) or not. Breathe out by gently pushing up under your ribcage without moving your chest. Then breathe in by simply relaxing (breaking the vacuum), keeping your ribcage expanded.

Exercises:

1. Lie on the floor with a book on your chest and a book on your stomach to help isolate chest and stomach movements. Breathe by moving only the book on your stomach.

2. Lean your back against a wall with your feet out a foot or so from the wall and your back crammed flat against the wall to help keep your ribcage expanded. Next, away from the wall, try to take small breaths and feel that your stomach, sides, and back are all equally pushed out by the diaphragm moving down. Remember, don't try to breathe in, if you breathe out with your ribcage expanded and keep it expanded, all you have to do is let go and the air will come flowing in. Let the incoming air pull your throat down as well. Also try small breaths from the front, sides, and back, separately and in sequence.

3. The Abdominal Lift: Bend over and forcefully exhaust all the air from your lungs. Then close your throat and stand up holding your chest as high as possible, thereby sucking your gut up underneath your ribcage. Hold this a second, then, still holding your chest up, simply open your throat and let the air rush in. Don't try to inhale, just let it happen. You can hear if your throat is tight. If your stomach muscles are tense, the air will come in slowly. If everything is relaxed and open the air will fill your lungs almost instantly. (It should feel as if it is filling your stomach.) Also do this exercise by placing your hands on your bended knees and arching your back as much as possible.

Resistance Exercises:

1. Long, slow, inhale with resistance. Create a lot of resistance with your lips against your teeth, so that this inhalation takes at least 45 seconds. Remember, don't try to breathe in. Breathe out by pushing up underneath your ribcage, then just relax. Feel the air gradually moving down in your torso and try to relax all your stomach muscles as much and as low as possible. If you have trouble making resistance with your lips or feel too stupid doing it, you can use a straw and pinch the end of it until you get the proper amount of resistance. Time these exercises.

2. Long, slow exhale with resistance. Same thing. Remember: don't hold your breath. Don't force the air out, just supply very gentle pressure and try to feel the air moving from very low in your abdomen to up under your ribs.

3. Nearly the same resistance, but breath in and out quickly and repeatedly. This is for strength and to feel what muscles are used.

4. Same as number one, except without resistance. Open your throat and breathe in as evenly as possible. The difficult thing is to be very smooth and even and to take as much time inhaling as in number one.

5. Same as number two but without resistance. This can be done with something of a flute embouchure. Same amount of time as before, and as smooth, even, and as effortless as possible.