Understanding the Diaphragm-Mind Connection

The diaphragm is an important function that connects the mind and breathing. It is a curtain of muscles that covers the internal organs and separates the lugs from the internal organs. It is generally believed that the diaphragm lowers when you inhale and rises when you exhale. When you inhale, your lungs expand, your diaphragm is pressed down, and your belly swells. When you exhale, your lungs shrink, your diaphragm is pulled up, and your stomach is indented. It is so-called abdominal breathing. On the other hand, you can breathe with your shoulders up and down. Raise your shoulders, pull your ribs up, spread your lungs up, then inhale,and exhale with your shoulders down. In this way, when you inhale, your abdomen will dent and exhale, return to its original state. The movement of the abdomen is the opposite of abdominal breathing. In these two breathing techniques, the diaphragm is simply a membrane and does not work as a muscle.
However there is a breathing techique that actively works the diaphragm as a muscle. When the diaphragm is tightened and pushed down, the ribs are pulled down, the lungs are compressed, and the breath comes out. The diaphragm lowers and presses on the belly, but the belly tightens below and catches the pressure. At this time, abdominal pressure occurs. In this way, you exhale while applying abdominal pressure. And when the abdomen is loosend, the ribs rise, and you inhale. If you expand your ribs further here, you will inhale in abdominal breathing. The diaphragm and emotion are deeply connected.There is a painting by Munch called “The Cry” that depicts a person who is threatend with fear. His shoulders raised, breathing in through his mouth, and his stomach hanging helplessly. When your mind is upset, you raise your shoulders and inhale and your stomac is indented without power. Under the diaphragm is a collection of nerves called the sokar plexus, which plays an important role in the function of the autonomic nervous system. If the diaphragm is weakened and rise powerlessly, the solar plexus does not work well and the autonomic nervous system seems to be disturbed. At such times, if you exhale and try to lower your diaphragm a few times, you can regain your composure. Even if your mind is not actually upset, if you try to lower your diaphragm while exhaling, you will be able to feel your heart is calm.
Also, if you take a big abdominal breath when you have something wrong in your mind, your diaphragm will go dowwn as you inhale, and your shoulders will relax as you exhale, then you feel more comfortable. Although the diaphragm does not work as muscles in this case, it shows that the diaphragm is connected to the heart.
If you look at only the abdominal breathing, you will lose sight of the breathing techiques.