Definition

Noun: * A method of respiration where the primary muscular effort for inhalation and exhalation comes from the diaphragm and abdominal muscles, rather than the chest and shoulder muscles. This causes the abdomen to expand outward during inhalation and contract inward during exhalation.

Usage

• Abdominal breathing is the core technique for proper breath support in activities like singing, playing a wind instrument, or practicing yoga.
• The term is used to describe a specific, intentional breathing pattern, often contrasted with shallow chest breathing.
• It is frequently discussed in contexts of relaxation, stress reduction, and vocal training.

Examples

• The instructor taught the class abdominal breathing to help manage performance anxiety.
• To project your voice effectively, you must master abdominal breathing.
• Many meditation exercises begin with a focus on slow, deep abdominal breathing.

Advanced Usage

• "To practice abdominal breathing": To engage in the deliberate exercise of this breathing technique.
  • She practices abdominal breathing for ten minutes every morning to center herself.
• In medical or therapeutic contexts, it may be referred to as diaphragmatic breathing and is used in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Variants and Related Words

• Diaphragmatic breathing (n): A near-synonymous term, emphasizing the role of the diaphragm muscle.
• Belly breathing (n): A more informal, descriptive term for the same technique.
• Deep breathing (n): A broader term that often, but not always, involves abdominal breathing.

Synonyms

• Diaphragmatic breathing
• Deep breathing (in context)

Antonyms / Contrasting Terms

• Chest breathing (n): Shallow breathing characterized by the rise and fall of the chest and shoulders.
• Thoracic breathing (n): A more clinical term for chest-centric breathing.

Related Phrases

• Breath support (n): The effective use of breath, often achieved through abdominal breathing, to sustain tone or effort.
  • Good breath support from abdominal breathing is essential for a singer's stamina.

Noun

1. breathing in which most of the respiratory effort is done by the abdominal muscles
   • abdominal breathing is practiced by singers