To: K-list
Recieved: 2003/07/30 12:12
Subject: [K-list] Re: Diaphragmology (Richard Friedel);
From: Richard Friedel
On 2003/07/30 12:12, Richard Friedel posted thus to the K-list:
Hi Nina,
Some of the books of Dr. Parow (1901-1986, in German) are available free
of charge from:
Heilung der Atmung
http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~s3e0101/webserver/webdata/ParowHDA.pdf
Funktionelle Atmungstherapie
http://www.lrz-muenchen.de/~s3e0101/webserver/webdata/ParowFA.pdf
He got away from what I call the "school physics" understanding of
breathing and said that breathing is controlled by the nose. He had
little success as a doctor and is remembered as voice trainer for
singers. He did say that correcting bad breathing (like asthma) was like
correcting bad playing on the violin, it took time and patience was
needed.
You stress that a sensitive understanding and body awareness with plenty
of metaphors is required as opposed to the really horrible and barbaric
language of pulmonologists who are only interested in pushing pills and
sprays for folks with breathing troubles.
However it does seem right that a simple physical factor, namely the
amount of suction on breathing in, has a powerful influence on diaphragm
action. It seems to change my state of consciousness so that I'm very
much less impulsive. But once the diaphragm is properly working one
breaks into a new world. I find that I enjoy this type of breathing
intensely. It might even get round to overcoming my dread of flying! To
be honest my true (?) kundalini experience was some time ago (I posted
here) and was brought on by jogging, limiting breathing and
concentrating on focussing my breath on the kundalini chakra, but I did
not take this up so seriously at the time.
If it is not too technical, the effect of using suction, i. e. putting a
sort of throttle on inspiration through the mouth (ujjayi) or through
the nose (nadi sodhana) is that the breathing muscles (on the one hand
the diaphragm and on the other the rib cage muscles) pull in opposite
directions to inflate the lungs. They are antagonists like the triceps
and the biceps are. Since they are linked together by way of the air in
the lungs, a certain degree of suction is necessary.
During genuine diaphragmatic breathing one cannot breathe in without
some resistance. It is not possible inhale in the "say r" position at
the doctor's, unless you tighten your throat at bit, because the
diaphragm needs an antagonist, something to pull against. Without a
little suction or negative pressure in the lungs it is not linked with
the rib cage muscles. As soon as the throat is restricted (ujjayi) it
has something to pull against and operates.
As I tried to explain the routine with the finger held between the lips
during an inhale through the gap between them so that the cheeks are
pulled in a bit, gives a very sensitive control of the effect on the
diaphragm. This should of course merely be a stepping stone or
subterfuge on the why to standard kundalini routines.
By speaking of bellows for the lungs I meant that the analogy was
exaggerated so that it is not possible to make any sense of nadi
sodhana.
It seems to be established in studies that the diaphragm can be
stimulated and located by many people who have never even dreamed of
breathing exercises before simply by sniffing sharply or trying to clear
their noses by suction. With some training they are able to selectively
stimulate the rib cage muscles or the diaphragm. Regards, Richard
Friedel
Nina Murrell-Kisner wrote:
>
> Gruesse, Richard,
>
> Thank you for opening such an interesting topic.
>
> You asked what I think of what you have written:
>
> --- Richard Friedel <s3e0101 AT_NOSPAM mail.lrz-muenchen.de> wrote:
> > Hi Nina,
> >
> > With all due respect, the breathing method for diaphragm training seems
> > to have much to speak for it. Activating it and feeling its presence by
> > sniffing is used in singing instruction. Although western medicine seems
> > to be generally at loggerheads with breathing, it does have the sniff
> > test, which seems quite effective. I go a lot by the books of Dr.
> > Julius Parow (1901-1986) who always emphasized that breathing
> > instruction should be functional, i. e. by breathing itself and not
> > exercising the limbs.
>
> I'll look into Parow's books. I tend to go by what arises in my 'practice',
> that is to say, self-observation.
>
> I can see the benefit of exercising that which you wish to see improve;
> logically, it follows that if one performs breath exercises, the quality of
> breath will change. However, as tension in parts of the body normally not
> associated directly with breathing can impair breathing, it is important to not
> exclude them from the overall plan.
>
> For instance, I currently have an injured Achilles tendon, and have noticed
> that limping has distorted the alignment in my spine and thus lungs and that I
> will tend to hold my breath when walking on or even thinking about the injured
> leg. I expect that as the tendon heals, this breathing difficulty will rectify
> itself; I also expect that as I continue to notice and relax out of the
> holdings, the tendon will heal itself more easily.
>
> I have observed that most people with tightness in their shouldergirdle and/or
> hips will have shallow breathing patterns. Tight hamstrings can also limit the
> respiratory wave, because of how these muscles pull down on the pelvis,
> limiting oscillation of the spine with the breath. Tight intercostal muscles
> and abdominal muscles, and even adhesions (caused by trauma or illness) amongst
> the abdominal organs or even of the abdominal organs to the diaphragm are
> definite contributors to reduced ability to breathe.
>
> For best results, the entire body should be included in a plan for better
> breathing. Treat the entire breathe-ing be-ing.
>
> > As I wrote, western medicine is mostly based on simple school physics
> > when it comes to understanding breathing. The lungs are thought of only
> > as bellows, not as parts of a living organism. This is a disaster.
>
> I have heard the lungs referred to as "bellows" in Kundalini Yoga circles,
> specifically as regards the Breathe of Fire. I have heard the lungs referred to
> as part of a 'respiratory system' (part of a living organism) in western
> medical circles and in western philosophies such as Body Mind Centering.
> Regardless of where they are heard, these are only concepts for understanding
> something which is beyond understanding. The breath is a root of life. How can
> we explain it?
>
> The true disaster would be to write off any concept for understanding as
> invalid. One person may require an understanding of their lungs as bellows,
> another may require an understanding of their lungs as part of a living
> organism. It all depends on 'what is missing' for that particular person.
>
> > Probably true pranayama technique is shown best in one of the many books
> > of André van Lysebeth. During an inhale in lotus pose (photo) the
> > student gets maximum inflation of the chest with ujjayi (restriction of
> > the throat). The next photo shows the alternative of an inhale with one
> > nostril held shut. That is to say, it is a question of "hindering" (but
> > actually promoting) the inhale.
> >
> > This is, it seems to me, where east and west are lightyears apart.
> >
> > One should accept that "obstructing" airflow when inhaling actually
> > increases it, because the diaphragm is then activated.
>
> You have observed this in your own body? What, exactly, have you observed?
>
> Obstructing the inhale, for one untrained in advanced pranayama, has the
> counter effect to what you have claimed. Obstructing the inhale greatly
> increases the desire for air, can generate a sense of panic rising from air
> starvation, and produces a 'gasping' response in which one gulps the next few
> inhales.
>
> If one wishes to deepen the inhale, has trouble breathing, or is feeling
> general panic which has impacted the breath, I would advise exhaling with
> 'obstruction'. Breathing through a straw, blowing a long stream of soap
> bubbles, chanting, or playing a wind instrument are examples of this. After a
> long slow exhale, the body naturally lengthens the inhale and the mind and body
> calm.
>
> By the way, the diaphragm is engaged every time you take a breath. It can not
> help but be engaged.
>
> Another note, since the topic was on the relationship between health and
> breathing exercises: ujjayi breathing and, in particular, breathe of fire and
> breath retention (where the breath is held after the exhale) are heat-building
> practices which pressurize the body. For this reason, people with nervous
> system sensitivies to heat, such as those with Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic
> Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and even vata constitutions or pitta imbalances
> (overload), should be very careful in or even halt their participation in such
> practices. For these people, breathing in these ways can be quite unhealthy.
> (See the comments above about the disaster being the thought that any concept
> for understanding is 'wrong'.)
>
> > The method I described with the subterfuge of replacing the constriction
> > in the nose (nadi sodhana) by one finger placed between the lips seems a
> > useful tool, because the size of the gap between the finger and lips can
> > be sensitively felt and varied to get the best action on the diaphragm
> > whose action is then improved. I find there is a very pleasant sensation
> > during the inhale (done with the cheeks drawn in a little), because the
> > gap size is varied to cooperate with the feeling in the lower abdomen.
> >
> > I find it extremely easy to focus the breath on the chakra at the base
> > of the abdomen. Whether this is the best method for kundalini is hard
> > to say, but it does give a perspective.
> >
> > It seems more or less clear that true diaphragmatic breathing needs
> > resistance for an inhale.
>
> No, it does not seem clear. In fact, the opposite is quite true. It is
> resistance which produces breathing difficulty and limits one's connection to a
> naturally arising respiratory wave, the very root of good health.
>
> > When using it, one cannot breathe in through a
> > thickish tube, unless you close it a bit with a finger. This seems to
> > be one reason for snoring: the diaphragm is not getting enough
> > resistance if the mouth is wide open. However other factors are
> > involved.
>
> The sound of snoring is the sound of the tube being squeezed. The sound of
> snoring is the sound of resistance.
>
> > What do you think of this? Best regards, Richard Friedel
>
> I think that the exploration should proceed.
>
> While I can appreciate the benefit of strengthening the diaphragm, my
> experience has been that strengthening the diaphragm before one is grounded in
> a naturally-arising, effortless breath can be counter-productive and even
> damaging. I have also found that in reconnecting with the naturally-arising,
> effortless breath, the diaphragm strengthens "on its own" - no exercises are
> necessary.
>
> Nina
>
Second message
I just had a sudden insight into an aspect of breathing. Here is a snip
from my
last message:
"Another note, since the topic was on the relationship between health
and
breathing exercises: ujjayi breathing and, in particular, breathe of
fire and
breath retention (where the breath is held after the exhale) are
heat-building
practices which pressurize the body. For this reason, people with
nervous
system sensitivies to heat, such as those with Multiple Sclerosis,
Chronic
Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and even vata constitutions or pitta imbalances
(overload), should be very careful in or even halt their participation
in such
practices."
Resistance = friction = heat building.
A closed system = one where the gates are locked, whether by choice (the
bhandas in yoga) or be default ("blockages", as commonly referred to in
this
group).
When one builds heat in a closed system, the result is pressurization.
The result of this can be an intensification at and from the points of
closure,
and/or blow-outs at the weakest areas along the closed system.
This is interesting to me, as it explains some of the 'fireworks' often
experienced by practicioners of Kundalini Yoga. It also has an
interesting
connection to some of the disruptions experienced during the movement of
kundalini. Perhaps self-evident, but nonetheless...
goodnight,
Nina
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