Paradoxical breathing is the belly drawing in on the inhale, a bracing pattern the work aims to unwind.
The chest lifts; the middle sucks in. In 📝Breathwork that is information about a held diaphragm, not a diagnosis of a medical paradox or of a lung disease. The invitation is a smaller nasal inhale that lets the belly and lower ribs go out. Forcing a big belly breath usually makes the brace worse.
Clients often do not know they are doing it until a hand on the belly shows the reverse. Dizziness or panic on the change means the dose is too much attention. Chest pain or unexplained shortness of breath is a referral.