Breathing With Your Feet

Have you ever breathed with your feet?

Of course, the lungs may be the focal point of respiration, but they're not the exclusive organ of breath. The lungs do nothing without their supporting, surrounding fascia (connective tissues); without the heart and cardiovascular system; without the nervous system; without the bones of the ribcage and spine. And none of these elements does anything without the others, and other systems and structures, all of which are totally dependent on the fascia to provide structure, protection, fluid exchange, oxygen flow, and more.

When we breathe, everything participates. Quite literally, everything does everything in the body. There is no isolated movement in human anatomy. There is no isolated function in human neurophysiology. There are points of focused activity, yes; nodes or junctures of process and energy flow. But ultimately, everything we do, we do with the entire body. Metabolism is not just a function of the digestive system; literally every cell in the body metabolizes. Fluid transport and exchange is not just a concern of the lymphatic system and the cardiovascular system; again, every one of the 30+ trillion cells in our bodies facilitates fluid and blood flow.

When we breathe, it is not just the lungs moving, it is the entire body respiring. Respiration is a holistic event, inclusive of "the respiratory system" and everything else all at once. When you breathe, your left pinky toe feels it; it's doing its part. When you breathe, your hips move with the rhythm of the rise and fall of your diaphragm and upper body. When you breathe, your nervous system dances along with the flow of life-giving atmospheric interpenetration that vitally links you to the "outside" world.

All these distinctions and designations (e.g., "the respiratory system," "inner world," "outer world," "the fascia," etc.) name not static, independent, isolated structures, systems, or events; they refer to focal points of function or concentrations of energy flow. Ultimately, they exist as such in abstract concept alone. Independent of symbolic language, everything a living system does is done with, through, and as the entirety of that system. The whole organism breathes; the whole organism metabolizes; the whole organism perceives; the whole organism thinks and cognizes.

So, my question is a little misleading. Have you ever breathed with your feet? Of course you have. You always do. You always have. Every one of the estimated 600 million breaths you'll take in your lifetime will involve your feet. They're there supporting the rest of the body, so your lungs can expand and contract. They're there, connecting you to the Earth that feeds and sustains you in every conceivable way, on every functional level, every fiber of your being. They're there, guiding your movement as you walk, run, dance, drive a vehicle, ride a bike, sink into a chair, dodge an insect, tap the beat as you listen to or play music. They're there, contributing their unique role in everything you do, even when you don't notice them, remember them, or care for them.

Take a few deep breaths. Imagine drawing the breath in through your feet. Initiate the breath from your feet. Allow the breath to ground yourself through your feet. Try this for a few minutes. Then, see if you can maintain this awareness of your "feet breathing" throughout the rest of your day. What do you notice? How does this change your perception, attention, movement, sensations, emotions, reactions, and desires? How does this affect your relationship with the surfaces across which you walk? How does this impact your breathing overall?

Everything we do, the entire body does. Breathe with and through the entire body. Your body will thank you.