Discovering the Armpits

The Intelligence of the Body Lies in Hidden Spaces

In our culture, armpits are rarely discussed—except perhaps in the context of hygiene or fashion. We hide them, deodorise them, shave them, and generally ignore them.

Yet from a somatic perspective, the armpits—or axillae, to use their anatomical name—are among the most significant gateways in the human body.

Hidden beneath the shoulders, tucked between the arms and the torso, the armpits are vital junctions where circulation, nerve pathways, lymphatic drainage, and fascial networks converge. They are intimately connected to our breathing, our body alignment, and even our emotional state.

A Hidden Space With Enormous Influence

For Alexander Technique teachers, the armpits can be a surprising source of width, breath, and upper-body ease. When the armpits collapse, shoulders round, breathing narrows, and the arms feel heavy. But when the armpits gently widen, the ribs expand, the diaphragm frees, and the shoulders find natural suspension—without lifting or effort.

A Simple Direction with Big Effects:

Try offering your students:

“Let the armpits widen”

“Let the armpits widen away from each other”

This quiet invitation often softens the neck, frees the shoulders, and reconnects the arms to the back in a very organic way.

A Quick Practice

Sense your armpits while breathing…

Imagine breathing with your armpits…

Sense the sides of your ribs gently widening while being aware of your breath—as if the breath could touch the walls of your armpits…

Notice the sense of widening and lightness as you invite your armpits to open...

Why It Matters

The armpits are part of a family of hidden spaces—like the back of the knees or the base of the skull—that often hold unconscious tension. Meeting them with awareness invites whole-body reorganisation.

An Invitation

Explore widening the armpits as you work, teach, reach, or walk. It is a small thought with a surprisingly transformative impact.