So im learning more and more, especially for me, how much my posture/muscular balance effects health.
Ive had breathing, anxiety, digestive problems, pelvic floor problems for over a year now.. Ive searched for every possible explanation, seen multiple doctors, read hundreds of books etc..
Ive just come to the realization that all of my issues are physical..
I work at the computer and have been sitting with terrible posture for many many years, plus working out very intenesely in martial arts etc and never stretching enough.
Because of this, I have kyphosis, and my pelvic tilts backwards when I stand straight.
This is why my breathing feels restricted, why I have pelvic floor/prostate problems, and digestive issues. These imbalances in my body disrupt my normal breathing patterns and stop my breath from flowing smoothly from my pelvic diaphragm to my chest diaphragm so my breath isnt massaging, moving blood flow through my pelvis/stomach etc. This, combined with stress/anxiety caused too much tension in my pelvic floor which leads to all the problems down there. The incorrect breathing rythym, biomechanics causes anxiety because it causes short incomplete breaths which is going to send me in to a mild panic at all times. Then the stress snowballs and causes other problems. The tension in my pelvic floor / lower back distrupts the normal digestive flow and peristalsis.
Anyway, im now doing Yoga 3 times a week + Tai Chi 2/3 times a week and cut way back on my intense martial arts, got a desk that moves up/down so I can stand some of the day instead of sitting all day. Trying to come up with an exercise program to strengthen my weak muscles, and stretch my overly tight ones.
I believe that over time, as my body comes back into physical balance, my breathing/anxiety/digestive/pelvic issues will disappear.
I think a lot of health problems can be traced back to physical imbalances.. thats why often times no doctors can figure them out, because they dont know much about the muscular/skeletal system or they dont realize the problems it can cause.
I think posture/muscular imbalance can cause, anxiety, breathing difficulty, any problem with circulation, blood pressure, all your internal organs, nervous system, everything really.
Most of us are not very balanced phsyically. I consider myself an athlete, and even I am totally out of balance at the moment. People need to pay more attention to that stuff, its not about just exercise/working out, youve gotta get your posture/body back into balance!