lorenzo bonaiuti
THE WORKSHOP OF THOUGHT
t.me/lorenzo_bonaiuti_shiatsu
Reflections, thoughts, notes from ongoing research, experiences: entering the workshop of a shiatsu practitioner.
A LOOK AT THE DIAPHRAGM: BREATHING AS A SYSTEMIC ACT
The diaphragm is the most important muscle for breathing.
It is a muscle-tendinous formation that connects the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
The same phrase can be found in the texts, but instead of the verb “colleague” that I used, it will easily read “divide.”
I think it is important to understand this double aspect of the structure of the diaphragm, but personally I emphasize connection (which is anatomical, functional, physiological, etc.) rather than separation.
It is innervated by the phrenic nerve and the vagus nerve. The most important stimulus for breathing is given by chemoreceptors to manage the biochemical balance of the body.
The action of the diaphragm is controlled by metabolic processes, but also by emotional states such as sadness, fear, anxiety, anger…
Breathing stimulates the mechanoreceptors of the diaphragm and the visceroceptors of the organs moved by inhalation-exhalation, which participate in the interoception mechanism.
Interoception is the awareness of the body’s condition, based on information that comes directly from the body.
The set of all this information determines the central representation that we have of our body through breathing.
A respiratory disorder can alter the emotional landscape and vice versa, a particular emotional state can change respiratory function.
Relatively recent research tells us that if the movements of the diaphragm is limited, its fibers will begin to produce autocrine and paracrine inflammatory substances, affecting the entire body system (hypothalamic – pituitary – adrenalaxis).
Breathing, therefore, is a systemic act that involves the entire body on multiple levels: metabolic, somatic, emotional, pain regulation, rhythms, statics and joint mechanics,…
Breathing is the mirror of our health. Breathing is the mirror of the possibility that we give ourselves to express ourselves in the relationship.
The movement of the diaphragm is very important for the vitality of the system
blood circulation, since during breathing up to a liter of blood is mobilized between the trunk and the extremities; It also stimulates the lymphatic system, since the diaphragm acts as a pump that pushes and moves lymphatic circulation, preventing and eliminating stasis and stagnation.
In relation to heart rate, it has recently been seen that the diaphragm participates in the movement of liquor inside the meninges.
It can be said that there are different rhythms in the body, which however are not independent, but interdependent and the diaphragm plays a central role.
Without going into details about commonly known aspects, examining the mechanics of the joint connections, the connection with the cervical and lumbar vertebrae and the relationship with the iliopsoas muscle, makes evident the centrality of the diaphragm, from the postural and physiology point of view. of movement, as well as its implication (always to be investigated) in lumbar, cervical, postural and visceral pain.
(I remember that I opened a public telegram channel: t.me/lorenzo_bonaiuti_shiatsu to which you can freely subscribe).