Words EMILY SPIEGEL
Take a deep breath. Despite the involuntary nature of this crucial biological process, if you concentrate, you recognize all the anatomical demands of a single breath. Your chest rises, and you may even feel your abdominal muscles clench on the inhale. This creates a negative pressure gradient, forcing air into your lungs. As you exhale, your chest falls and your abdominal muscles relax. This creates a positive pressure gradient which forces the expiratory CO2 out of your lungs. The same muscles that control your breathing, the intercostal muscles, the diaphragm, the abdominals and obliques, also help stabilise your posture during the rowing stroke.