The importance of the diaphragm with regards to breathing is well known, but the diaphragm also plays a vital role in posture and digestion. This is why how you breathe matters. Anyone who has spent enough time learning about exercise, mindfulness or meditation knows that there is more than one way to breathe. Most of the time we don’t think about breathing, our body breathes on its own without us having to tell it how. But knowing the full story behind diaphragm breathing will help you achieve deeper and more relaxed breathing, and will also help you to support your body in a safe, protective posture. The diaphragm is the one important structure that helps integrate lumbar stability and therefore supports the posture. While many practitioners focus on the ability of the diaphragm to maintain an adequate breath, they may forget it plays an integral part in providing stability and mobility to the lumbar vertebrae. This attachment goes as low as the L1-L3, so that’s a pretty far reach when we breathe. During this one-day seminar on the diaphragm we will look at the following: Breathing Anatomy: origin, insertion, innervation Physiology The importance of the diaphragm in meridian function The three burners and the diaphragm Muscle tonus: hyper and hypo Reasons for hypertonicity Symptomatology of poor diaphragmatic function Assessment of Diaphragmatic Function. Visual observation Palpation Breath holding time Thoracic Mobility Snider’s Test Treatment options: Chapman’s and Bennett’s Reflexes Acupuncture points: primary and secondary Emotional release techniques (ESR) Diaphragmatic exercises.