DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle located just below your lungs and heart, separating the chest from the abdomen. It's the primary muscle used in breathing.

How Diaphragmatic Breathing Works:

When you breathe deeply using your diaphragm:

  • Your diaphragm contracts and moves downward, expanding the lungs.

  • This creates a pressure change in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

  • These pressure shifts help move fluids, including lymph, throughout your body.

Breathing's Impact on Lymph Flow:

  1. Creates a “Pump” Effect
    Deep breathing acts like a pump, especially in the thoracic duct (the main lymph vessel). The alternating pressure helps push lymph fluid upward toward the neck where it re-enters the bloodstream.

  2. Reduces Lymph Congestion
    Shallow breathing can lead to sluggish lymph movement. Deep breathing encourages better flow, which helps clear waste and support immune health.

  3. Supports Detoxification
    By improving lymph movement, diaphragmatic breathing helps your body eliminate toxins more efficiently, reducing the burden on the liver and kidneys.

  4. Reduces Stress = Better Lymph Flow
    Stress constricts vessels and reduces lymph movement. Diaphragmatic breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes vessels and allows lymph to flow more freely.

1. Sit or lay down somewhere comfortable where the body feels supported and at ease.

2. Place one hand on your belly and one hand on your chest.

3. Take a slow, gentle and deep breath in through your nose and without forcing the movement, direct your breath down into your belly and feel your belly rise and your lower ribs expand outwards. As you continue to breathe in, you may feel a slight rise of the chest also.

4. Breathe out through your mouth, as if you were super softly blowing out a candle, allowing the chest to fall, followed by the belly, allowing your shoulders and jaw to relax at the same time. Practice and repeat.