“Never skip diaphragm day.”

~ Andrew Huberman, PhD

We are returning to the Rapid Relief Workshop Series with the Breath Rehab on Saturday, November 4th. This class is all about the rib cage and the diaphragm.

Feel into your body and sense your lungs and abdomen. The diaphragm is a parachute-like muscle that separates these two body regions. Blood vessels, nerve supply, and food must pass through the diaphragm to reach their destinations in the lower body.

Because the respiratory diaphragm occupies such a central place in the body, it has many fascial connections to the upper and lower body.

At the top, the muscle fibres of the diaphragm combine to form a central tendon that reaches up to fuse with the pericardium, the fibrous wrapping of the heart.

Within the diaphragm, muscle fibres surround the opening between the esophagus and the stomach, acting as a valve to prevent gastric reflux.

The diaphragm attaches to the mid and lower ribs (7th to 12th rib), the very bottom of the breast bone (the xiphoid process), and the lumbar spine (L1 to L3). It connects to the lower body via the psoas, the longer muscle in the hip flexor group, directly influencing hip mechanics and range of motion.

You can think of the diaphragm as the “one ring to rule them all!”
Because of its deep connection to the whole body, working with the diaphragm can often be the fastest way to relieve a wide range of tissue issues, from neck aches and headaches to stubborn shoulder troubles to back pain and hip problems.