TB Equipment and Breathing

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any smart ideas for how to do inverted cat without a ball.  Need to get one but don't want to wait to start because i don't have one.

Also when doing Supine Trap Stretch i have trouble breathing. i read on another thread this is probably because im thoracic breathing rather than diaphragm breathing. 

To combat this should i modify the stretch to have my legs a bit higher, while focusing on trying to breathing with the diaphragm.

Anyone know any good diaphragm breathing protocols?

Thanks Phil

Hi Philip,

To replace the ball when doing the inverted cat, you can use a bench or a box. If you're training at home you can use the edge of a couch. To replace the stall bar you can use a partner spot or hold a weight in your hands (5-10lbs). 

For the trap stretch I'd recommend to keep your feet a bit higher to begin with and gradually get closer to the ground  

Thanks Pauline, ill give it a go

Breathing with the belly and not in the upper chest can be helped if you perform a daily breath exercise on the floor plus some spine twist and spine extension without arm over head. Diaphram it is a muscle, it must be trained but for sure the tensions which reduce its range of motion must be released.

8 minutes ago, Alessandro Mainente said:

Breathing with the belly and not in the upper chest can be helped if you perform a daily breath exercise on the floor plus some spine twist and spine extension without arm over head. Diaphram it is a muscle, it must be trained but for sure the tensions which reduce its range of motion must be released.

Intressting Alessandro,, would you mind being a Little bit more specific in those exercises? Thank you 

The breathing it is simple to lie on the floor supine and try to move up and down the belly.

TB has the necessary spine rotation exercise to develop the ability to twist.

11 hours ago, Pauline Taube said:

To replace the ball when doing the inverted cat, you can use a bench or a box. If you're training at home you can use the edge of a couch. To replace the stall bar you can use a partner spot or hold a weight in your hands (5-10lbs). 

I don't have a ball at home either, so I was interested in this answer. 

I do do this stretch on a piano stool. But I find that it doesn't always stretch the shoulders, and my glutes can't do down like they would on a ball. 

Could you show us in a picture, perhaps, how you'd use a bench or box? 

18 hours ago, Alessandro Mainente said:

The breathing it is simple to lie on the floor supine and try to move up and down the belly.

TB has the necessary spine rotation exercise to develop the ability to twist.

Thanks Alessandro, ill give the breathing exercises a go.

@Samin Ishtiaq I'll give it a go and see if i can do the stretch and post a video, hopefully it will help others too.

Thanks everyone!