Sydney Chiro Explains: How Proper Breathing Enhances Spinal Health and Reduces Stress

Hey, it’s Dr. Izzy here—your Sydney Chiro (or your next chiro 😉).

If you’re constantly feeling tight, tired, wired or flat—start by asking yourself a simple question:
How are you breathing right now?

Because the way you breathe affects everything—your spine, your posture, your nervous system, and your stress response.

At BRAIN TO BODY®, one of the first things we look at (even before pain) is breath. Why? Because breathing isn’t just a life function—it’s a feedback loop between your brain and body. And for many, that loop is stuck.

Let’s dive into how proper breathing transforms your spine and helps calm your nervous system from the inside out.

What Does “Proper” Breathing Actually Mean?

Proper breathing is diaphragmatic—which means your breath drops low into your belly and ribcage, not high into your chest.

When done well, you should feel:
🔹 Your lower ribs expanding outward
🔹 Your belly gently rising and falling
🔹 Minimal chest or shoulder movement

But here’s the thing: most people are breathing too fast, too shallow, and too high—especially when sitting at desks or living in a high-stress state.

This style of breathing reinforces poor posture, neck tension, and fatigue. It can even make you feel more anxious, foggy, or disconnected from your body.

How Breathing Impacts Your Spine

Here’s what shallow or chest-dominant breathing does over time:

• Over-activates your neck and shoulder muscles
• Leads to forward head posture and upper back tension
• Reduces spinal movement, especially through the mid-back and ribs
• Keeps your nervous system locked in a fight-or-flight state

In other words: poor breathing = poor posture = a body under constant stress.

When you restore proper breath mechanics, you’re not just helping your lungs—you’re freeing up the spine and nervous system to function the way they’re designed to.

Breath Is a Direct Line to Your Nervous System

Breathing is one of the only systems in the body that’s both automatic and controllable. This makes it a powerful tool to influence your nervous system on demand.

At BRAIN TO BODY®, we use breath as a neurological bridge—to help your body shift from survival mode (sympathetic) into healing mode (parasympathetic).

That’s why after an adjustment, many clients say:
💬 “I feel like I can breathe deeper.”
💬 “I didn’t realise how tight my chest was.”
💬 “My whole body feels more open.”

It’s not magic. It’s the brain-body connection switching back on.

3 Signs Your Breath Needs Support

1️⃣ You catch yourself holding your breath during stress, emails, or workouts
2️⃣ You feel tension in your neck or shoulders after a long day
3️⃣ You often feel foggy, anxious, or like your thoughts are racing

If you tick one or more of these, your breathing habits may be working against you—and your spine is likely involved too.

How We Help at BRAIN TO BODY®

As your Sydney Chiro, we assess more than just your spine. We look at:

• How your ribs and thoracic spine are moving
• Whether your posture is supporting or restricting breath
• How your nervous system is wired throughout the day
• And what patterns your brain is running automatically

We then combine precise spinal adjustments with breath awareness and movement patterning to create a body that breathes—and functions—with ease.

Try This Right Now

🔹 Sit upright with both feet on the floor.
🔹 Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly.
🔹 Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds.
🔹 Exhale slowly for 6–8 seconds through the nose or lips.

Notice which hand moves more. If it’s the top one—you’ve got an opportunity to unlock a better pattern.

Ready to Breathe Better and Stress Less?

If you feel like your system is stuck in survival mode and your breath just can’t seem to drop deep—it might be time to get your spine assessed.

Book your visit at BRAIN TO BODY®, and let’s reconnect your breath, your spine, and your nervous system—so your body feels safer, stronger, and more grounded.

Breathe better. Move better. Live better.
See you in the studio,
Dr. Izzy
Sydney Chiro | BRAIN TO BODY®

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