Bridging Body, Mind, and Emotions Through the Breath

The focus of this post will be a muscle which is vital for our breathing process: the diaphragm. But besides participating on this important process, it also plays a role in our physical, emotional, and energetic well-being.

The diaphragm is the the primary muscle in our respiratory system, being responsible for about 80% of our lung capacity.

When we inhale, the diaphragm moves downward to create space for the lungs to expand and take in air. With this movement, we are inhaling life, taking in vital energy. When we exhale, we are expelling waste products, releasing tension and stress, and getting a reminder on the cycle of taking in and letting go.

This reminds me of the Metal element in Chinese Medicine, as it's related to the Lungs and this concept of letting go. If you want to learn more about it, check this blog post.

Therefore, while we are breathing, the diaphragm is moving up and down, creating and alleviating pressure in our abdominal area. With that, the visceral organs are receiving a gentle massage, where fluids will be moving and energy will circulate. Remember, our energetic powerhouse is in this area, so keeping it free of tension allows such energy to be freely distributed.

The Diaphragm as a Bridge Between Two Worlds

The diaphragm is shaped like a dome, a shield in between the upper and lower areas of our torso. This positioning reflects a deeper meaning:

• The Upper Area: associated with thoughts, mental activity, and our sense of self ("I") - our conscious side

• The Lower Area: a space of emotions, intuition, sexual energy, and connection with others through creation and sharing - our unconscious side

Another interesting point is that the diaphragm sits near the solar plexus, the energetic center linked to self-esteem, personal power, and the expression of life-force.

We see then that the breath and emotions are directly linked to one another. A practical example to that is:

• Sighing when we experience relief or allow ourselves to feel deeply

• Holding our breath when we are suppressing emotions or in a state of intense focus

“Our breathing capacity is proportional to our ability to be in touch with ourselves. The more we breathe, the more we feel; the less we breathe, the less we feel.” Gilles Marin

Each breath, when done deeply and with the expansion of our belly to all sides - like a ballon - is recruiting the participation of our diaphragm. Imagine the diaphragm as the shield allowing the emotions to move from the unconscious to the conscious. Moving from the belly to the heart, if the heart is ready to experience them.

By improving the quality of our breathing, we are opening the path to emotional awareness, which is the first step of a healing journey. I go deeper on this topic in this blog post.

My support for you...

The abdominal massage sessions - known as Chi Nei Tsang - are the first tool I would suggest to get more connected with your breathing and improve the energetic flow in the abdominal area.

This type of bodywork touches the physical, emotional and energetic aspects of this region of our bodies, improving the fluid circulation and energetic flow in the visceral organs. The organs are also connected to emotions and by working on them, we are bringing more awareness to different topics of life.

By gaining more connection to your body, you will increase your awareness and therefore open the path to emotional awareness.

Looking forward to having you coming for a session!

With love,

Tarsi.