To: K-list
Recieved: 2003/07/30 22:16
Subject: [K-list] Re: Diaphragmology, for Richard and Amar;
From: Nina Murrell-Kisner

Greetings, Richard and Amar,

Richard, thank you for the link to Dr. Parow's books. I scanned one, Heilung
der Atmung, and will read both at more length later.

Richard, there was one point on anatomy you made that I may be
misunderstanding, but which did not seem to make sense. This was your mention
of the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles acting as antagonists. I just
can't see how this can happen. Typically, antagonist muscles span a joint. When
one of the antagonists contract and pull the bones towards each other in one
direction, the other muscle must release. Then, in order to return the bones to
their original position, the contracted muscle releases and while its
antagonist contracts.

So, when it comes to the suggestion that the diaphragm acts as an antagonist to
the intercostal muscles, I don't follow your thought at all. The intercostal
muscles seem to be antagonists to opposing intercostal muscles, so that one can
bend & twist the ribcage. When I breathe, at no time do I contract my
intercostal muscles to expel air, rather, I may draw my navel towards my spine
(or: relax it towards my spine). The antagonist muscles of the diaphragm are
the abdominal muscles.

Despite claiming to have eschewed physics, Dr. Parow's work does seem rather
mechanistic in how it relies so heavily on the muskuloskeletal system to
rectify perceived problems in breathing. His methods, as you describe them, are
based on power, levers, (bellows), and suction. The breath is seen as 'what is
left over', what is 'controlled'.

The approach is heavily goal-laden. While one may argue that setting a goal is
the first step to achieving a goal, one may also point out that without a deep
sense of self-awareness, the self-diagnosis, and thus goal and rectifying
practice may be entirely off-base.

Here is an excellent article, and a very concise warning, of what one can gain
from 'breathing exercises' which strengthen (and thus shorten) the diaphragm:

http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Regular/joel48.htm

My experience is that is better to treat tightness in the body which limits
breathing, and, if you feel like doing some exercise with the breath, lie down
and do nothing but watch the breath; open to the inherent workings of the
breath.

Lastly, it is curious how pranayama has come to mean "breath control", when it
might better be described as "breath partnering". Pranayama is when the mind
yields to the breath.

Amar, your practice has revealed the space in between the exhale and inhale,
and though this space may grow longer in perception, it never fails that an
inhale follows. Isn't that curious, and a great revelation in itself? :)

Nina

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