Some of you may aware of tension in their torso, (which is made of the many bones of the ribcage). but many have forgotten what having a comfortable, supple ribcage feels like.
A flexible chest allows healthy movement through your whole body, and improves your ability to breathe.
Your ribs are designed for flexibility.
With 12 pairs, there are 24 places where your ribs articulate with your thoracic spine. It’s what allows your chest to move multi-dimensionally.
Habits of moving, thinking and emoting can lead to physical tension
Some of your postural, playing, and emotional habits can result in carrying extra tension in your chest and ribs, distorting your musculoskeletal organisation. It can impact all your movements and everything we do. It can affect your ability to organise the airflow, and breathe optimally.
The ribs are central to your physical self
Tension around your ribs and chest affects the freedom of movement of your head and neck, the comfort of your shoulders and back. Along with affecting your posture, and the way you walk. Perhaps most importantly, it affects your breathing and the ability to move your diaphragm. Stiffness around the ribs is part of the universal pattern of fear, and can produce feelings of anxiety.