Breathing, breathing, breathing.
How and when did we stop optimal breathing? As I observe people with certain pain and discomfort, I notice that breathing is often compromised. Many people have shallow breathing. When asked to breathe deeply, they raise their shoulders as if there is a lot of space expanding upward. When inhaling, diaphragm is pushed DOWN, not UP. Breathing is an opportunity to feel your body's depth. A lot of pain and discomfort can go away by just breathing right! What I mean by 'breathing right' is not about 'inhale in count 3 and exhale in count 5' and what not. Is it about letting your body follow its course of nature. So how do we do that?
When breathing, you can bring awareness to three parts of your body: lower abdomen, upper abdomen under stomach, and chest. Many people don't breathe into the chest. This is due to the habitual way of standing and sitting as well as improper carriage of the head.
Lie on the floor. Place one hand on your chest, the other on your belly. Observe which part of your body you are breathing in. Which part is rising and falling? Which part is expanding to R and L? In a well-organized body, chest rises and falls quite a bit. You don't need to correct anything, but just observe. Place focus on you exhalation. Many people don't exhale enough to inhale. It requires patience to exhale fully. After you exhale fully, you can wait a little to see how and where you let the air come in. Inhalation naturally follows exhalation and you can start sensing the breathing cycle with your body.