Balancing the Eight Diaphragms

Balancing the Eight Diaphragms 
 
MyoFascial Release and Strain Counterstrain techniques as well as other biomechanical techniques can be used on the diaphragms to encourage better breathing and fluid flow in the body.

Osteopath’s treat eight diaphragms in the body: respiratory diaphragm, thoracic inlet, interosseous membranes of the arms, cranial diaphragm, pituitary diaphragm, tongue, pelvic diaphragm, and interosseous membranes of the legs.

In this section we will look at a wide variety of techniques and approaches to help relax and stabilize the diaphragms.
 
 
Self-Care for Balancing the Diaphragms 

This 10-20 minute visualization is an except from The Hypermobility-Hypomobility Continuum: Manual Therapy and Alternative Medicine Solutions for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Other Connective Tissue Disorders https://amzn.to/4m4wqI3 August 28, 2025 Free Download

Balancing the diaphragm system can have a calming effect on the nervous system, the muscles, and connective tissue as well as increasing fluid exchange in the body, allowing for more nutrients in and waste products out.
 
1. Lay comfortably with one hand over the respiratory diaphragm and the other over the pelvic diaphragm. Focus on the rise and fall of your body as you breathe. Close your eyes and feel the two diaphragms contracting and relaxing. Feel for a rhythmical pairing of the movement.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
2. Place your hands on the respiratory diaphragm and the thoracic inlet. Notice if there are any temperature differences between the areas as you continue to breathe.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
3. Place one hand over the thoracic inlet and the other hand over the head and the cranial diaphragm. Feel for any movement in the head as you feel the chest move with your breath.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
4. Place both hands on the sides of the head. Feel for an expansion and relaxation phase as cerebral fluid moves around the head and shifts the cranial diaphragm.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
5. As you notice the warmth and movement, place your tongue on the roof of the mouth just behind the upper teeth in the center. Follow the energy down the front center of the chest from the tip of the tongue. The energy of the Conception Vessel circulates down the center of the body to the lower pelvis and then moves into the Governing vessel up the spine and over the head to the upper teeth and roof of the mouth or maxilla. These energies circulate in both directions down the spine and up the front of the body and up the spine.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
6. With hands on the back of the head and on the forehead and eyes, visualize the pituitary with a small membrane over the top as the cranial diaphragm (tentorium cerebeli) shifts with the cerebrospinal fluid.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
7. With one hand on the back of the head and the other over the respiratory diaphragm, notice the difference in the softness or hardness of the tissue under each hand.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
8. Place your hands on both forearms. The right hand on the left forearm and the left hand on the right forearm. Rest your arms over the respiratory diaphragm. Feel for an expansion and contraction movement in the forearms as the respiratory diaphragm contracts and relaxes.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
9. In a seated position place one hand over the pelvis and the other hand over the right shin. Feel for a U-shaped movement from the right foot up the leg, through the pelvis and down the left leg to the left foot and then back again.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
10. In a seated position repeat this step on the other side. Place one hand over the pelvis and the other hand over the left shin. Feel for a U-shaped movement from the left foot up the leg, through the pelvis and down the right leg to the right foot and then back again.
 
            After a few minutes move to the next step.
 
11. Once again lay down with one hand over the respiratory diaphragm and one hand over the pelvic diaphragm. Breathe in a relaxed way and feel for the pumping action of the diaphragms contracting and relaxing or shifting in response to or causing increased fluid flow in the body.
 
            Take as much time as you wish. You can also go back and repeat any step that feels like it could benefit from move.