Healing and Releasing the Soleus

Here's a reply to an email I received from a Tri-Breather in the UK, who was in search of effective help for his soleus and calf muscles (gastrocnemius). He was looking for a self-treatment style of approach to healing a long-lasting and disabling injury he sustained when he snapped his achilles tendon about 12 years ago. This resulted in numerous surgical operations and much scar tissue.

Well Pat, as you well know, from pages 72 – 84 of the Tri-Breath book, there are 18 or so photo’s illustrating four ripper techniques that are just what the doctor ordered to heal sore and damaged knees and achilles tendon injuries. All using the simplicity of a tube, or a large smooth stick, or a rolled up newspaper etc. For specific techniques to isolate and focus the healing on where the soleus muscle (still using the tube) and the gastrocnemius meet, here’s how you do it.










Still sitting on your knees, place the tube across both legs right here. With your hands placed just to the side of your knees for balance, and maintaining a nice straight posture, slowly lower the weight of your body down (compressing the tube in-between the calf’s and the back of the thighs).

Gently using your bottom like the boom on a boat, and moving mm at a time, travel as far as your calf muscles will let you to the right, then, still staying focussed on your breath, slowly and gently move back to the centre, continuing all the way to the left. Again, as far as your calf muscles and soleus will allow.

Remember to use your voice and gently moan and groan a plenty. Breathing and toning gives the pain “a way of releasing” itself from the body. Try it, it works!!!
Using this type of compressive technique will bring blood to the area, breaking up old scar tissue that occurs as a result of any ligamental or muscular tear. Follow up with some kelp or horeradish liniment (also in the Tri-Breath book) and regular Epsom salt baths, maintain a regular stretching regime (only stretch a warm body), eat lot’s of hydrogen and magnesium rich watery foods (keeping the body alkaline, cutting down on acid rich foods), and Bob’s your Uncle!!!

Many thanks to the University of Washington whose permission to use the musculoskeletal images has helped me and many others achieve a greater awarness and understanding of the human body. Cheers guys! You do great work!

Where to Breathe - Nose or Mouth?

We all know the scenario, there’s so much conflicting information given to us we don’t know which way to go. Arthur’s way or Marther's way. A Tri-Breather emailed me asking for “light to be shed” on such a situation. As a lover of walking and running, he had read on a running web site that breathing in and out through the mouth is the proper technique.

Well I can guarantee you this. This is only true for a mere minuscule percent of the human family; for a minuscule amount of time that they breathe. For example…People who perform very quick bursts of acceleration over very short distances – e.g. one hundred metre sprinters.

Certainly not the sort of information that is factual and pertinent, where 99.999% of the general public is concerned. And where the sprinters are concerned for that matter, when they’re not sprinting!

Two of the reasons why is this… It is important that we breathe through the nose, because during its passage this way, the air is warmed, moistened, and filtered of harmful bacteria. The scroll-like turbinate bones (situated behind the nose) are covered with a mucous membrane, impregnated with blood vessels and mucous glands. Expecting your body to perform consistently in our modern environment without filtering the air you breathe in, is leaving the door wide-open for trouble down the road.

The mucous membranes covering the turbinate bones create mucous so you can blow what the air-filtering system collects out, protecting your body from illness. Stabilising and warming the temperature of the air you breathe-in also improves the lungs ability to absorb the oxygen. The way it works is not rocket science, the way it was created to work – incredible, awesome - words cannot describe!

So visualise and know your breath is ENERGY –Implosive and Explosive energy. Breathe through your nose; breathe out through your mouth if it is more comfortable. Stay conscious of your breath and stay strong.