JUST BREATHE     You do it all the time, but embroiled in a stressful situation, suffering acid reflux or Asthma it can be a daunting task to take a deep breath. The common link that connects these and many more issues is the diaphragm. That muscle they told you was for singing in choir class is so much more. By the time this article hits the news stand I will have (affirmation) climbed to the summit of Mt. Shasta at 14,162 feet, and gained an even deeper appreciation of this magical mushroom shaped muscle. By practicing diaphragmatic breathing, the rest step, and spending time in the 9000 ft. simulation chamber at Gold’s gym, I have been trying to extract and use the greatest amount of available oxygen from the atmosphere that each breath allows. The good news is that using your diaphragm to breathe is an easy habit to develop. You can do it anywhere, anytime and nobody will know that you are sneaking that extra hit of brain food.   People are always talking about this or that tight muscle that they have, guys are notorious for their hamstrings and backs while necks and shoulders seem universal.  These conditions cause discomfort and lack of mobility. Now imagine if your diaphragm is tight or cramps. If you are asthmatic, or have ever had a panic attack, it’s that feeling. Even moderate tightness that is typical of shallow breathing robs your entire system of that precious oxygen that things like your brain and heart really like. So what can you do about it? Give it a workout by practicing deep diaphragmatic breathing. The inhalation begins with the diaphragm doing what every muscle does when it contracts, it broadens. The abdominal region expands in all directions. This action, along with the muscles between the ribs, draws the lungs into a greater volume and the resulting vacuum is filled with air. Only at the end of a full breath might the shoulders ever so slightly ride up on the newly expanded thoracic region. As for the exhale, try this to get some awareness of what muscles are working for this process. Blow out, blow out, and now blow out. The exhale is when the diaphragm is relaxing and going back into neutral so give it a chance. Once you have just watched and got in touch with your breathing for a while a good pattern to practice, at what ever pace is comfortable for you, is the 4-7-8. Inhale for a 4 count, hold for 7, and then gauge the exhale for an 8 count. Remember it is the exhale that is the measured test for respiratory efficiency. This is when the carbon dioxide is released from the alveoli and replaced with oxygen. Shallow breathing that utilizes the wrong muscles becomes a loop of self destruction that leads to neck and chest tightness, increased sensitivity to pain because PH levels change in the body, even arm and hand pain is created as the scalene muscles that house the brachial plexus ( the nerve junction box behind your collar bone) clench down and disrupt transmission. Here’s a Bowen trick to keep your chest and shoulders from collapsing forward and inhibiting breathing, especially after hours on the computer. Lift your shoulders up, now inhale, then pull your shoulders back, now exhale as you push your chest out while you reach down and back behind you. Use as needed The Bowen procedure called Respiratory is a powerful tool for releasing a tight diaphragm. A gentle, painless process that is done clothed while you relax. What a wonderful stress reliever when you can breath easy again.  After your body has received the procedure on two occasions you will be taught a single move that will reactivate it, and will stop an Asthma attack dead in its tracks. I challenge anyone with a peak flow meter to bring it in and do a before and after test, the results are that fast and lasting. A research program to test the efficacy of the Bowen Technique with Asthma sufferers was carried out over a twelve month period. The majority of participants had been suffering from Asthma over 5 years, most for over 15 years.   The results were very positive.  83% of the participants reported a reduction in the frequency of their Asthma attacks and 75% reported using less medication than before the Bowen Research project. Of the 24 volunteers who completed the program, 22 reported that secondary health concerns had also improved, including back, neck and shoulder problems; knee and joint problems; headaches and migraines; hay fever; irritable bowel syndrome and digestion; circulation; insomnia; anxiety, stress, depression and energy level improvement. Here’s a news flash – the esophagus passes through the diaphragm on its way to the stomach. Suffer from G.E.R.D or heartburn? I will discuss this environment and the 12 billion dollar antacid scam that the pharmaceutical companies are perpetrating in a future article. Call me now for relief or a free consultation. Want to learn more about Bowen? Check out www.Bowenwellness.com  I will be attending the Bowen International Conference at Yale University in mid June 2006. I am looking forward to the many ways I may better serve your needs.