My abdomen has been constantly tense for the past few years and it’s preventing me from taking full, deep, natural breaths. I’ve gone to regular doctors with this problem, but they keep looking in the wrong areas, like asthma. Anyhow, I was wondering if anybody has come across this problem or knows how to deal with it. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
Howdy stretch,
Most of us would need to know something about you in order to answer a question of this sort. At very least, your age and condition and gender as well as the nature of your yoga practice and specifics of what you are referencing relative to your body.
Are you 20 or 70? Are you lean or husky? Are you male or female? Are you doing a yoga practice or an asana practice? If so when and for how long and in what style?
By abdomen are you referring to the space between the diaphragm and the pubic bone? What do you do for a living? What is your diet like?
Help us to help you:-)
gordon
Hey Gordon,
I’m a 25 year old male and I would say I’m lean, but I’ve gained some fat that I can’t seem to lose because of this problem I’m having.
I guess I didn’t explain my issue very clearly before, so to be very specific I wouldn’t necessarily say that I have tension in my abdomen but that my diaphragm is tense. The main problem is that my body is not doing deep breathing naturally as it should, and when I check out that area I notice that my abdomen (area around the diaphragm) is pretty tense. So my main problem is that I’m not breathing properly, and I assumed that it is because of the tension that I feel in my body.
I work in an office and I eat healthy for the most part. Another interesting fact is that no matter what I do about my diet or exercise, ever since I’ve had this problem I haven’t been able to lose any fat, I’ve only gained small amounts periodically.
Also, I haven’t actually done any Yoga consistently. I came to this site to see if there is a form of Yoga that can help fix my problem. I used to do normal breathing meditation, but now my body doesn’t breathe very naturally and I have to force my breaths, so I no longer do that.
I know some of this sounds kind of confusing so please let me know if you need me to clear something else up. Thanks a lot for the reply.
I get you now Stretch, thank you.
Assuming you’ve not got something else going on, and that we are just talking about this thing on its own, here’s what I feel.
The short answer is to pursue a practice that includes pranyama (the educating of your body to the process of breathing in a variety of controlled fashions) and asana (postures) with a focus toward backbending. The home of the breath is in the lungs. That is from the bottom of the rib cage (diaphragm) to the collar bones (clavicles). What I’ve mentioned here would help to locate the breath where it belongs and to open up the anatomy associated with respiration.
In addition one must be aware of the environment in which they are breathing so no toxic cleansers, no perfumes, no smog, etcetera. In conjunction, a diet that provides oxygenation would be helpful (deep, green leafy vegetables organic when possible).
From an emotional standpoint, and again since i am not work ing with you directly I am merely pointing you in a general direction…things that effect the stomach or belly are often things associated with concern, worry, stress, and that which we cannot digest in our lives.
Please, when pursuing a practice find one that understands the difference between gentle pranayama appropriate for students early in their practice (10 years) and those that agitate the nervous system and wreak havoc in the unaligned neophyte.
gordon
Yoga has proved its worth in curing indigestion, constipation, acidity, excess wind or gas, lack of appetite, diameter, disorders of the male of real reproductive systems and varicose veins. It also eliminates energy blockage in the abdominal areas. Abdominal muscles assist in breathing and align the pelvis. Yoga can help one to develop the perfect balance of abdominal strength, suppleness, relaxation, and awareness. Although causes of abdominal disorders vary from person to person, the common cause is mostly psychological which results in nervous problems, tensions and various types of stress and strain. Improper eating habits, eating spicy and stale food, not chewing the food properly are also the causes for abdominal disorders.
The best possible ways to cure abdominal disorders through Yoga is the regular practice of asanas and Pranayama. Pranayama with Rechaka and Puraka are recommended. Yoga works best for abdominal problems like Diabetes, Acidity, Indigestion and Constipation. Diabetes means that the body does not produce or use insulin properly. The practice of the yogic postures can rejuvenate the insulin producing cells in the pancreas of diabetics of both types, and that doing the postures in a relaxed manner, without exertion, yogic meditation and breathing help most patients to control the causes of diabetes. The person must practice the Yoga asanas that include movements slowly and smoothly, stretching the limbs and joints, and gently compressing the abdomen, without straining. One should focus on the breath during the maintenance period of the Yoga Asanas, with the eyes closed or focused on one point, as a means of learning to focus the mind and to manage stress and tension in the body. Savasana is one of the best postures for diabetes that systematically relaxes all of the parts of the body.