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Core Fascial Release of Upper Psoas/Diaphragm 1. osition the client supine. Locate the costal arch and let P your fingertips duplicate the angle of lower ribs just below the 7–10 rib line, outside the rectus abdominis. 2. pply mild pressure in the costal area until you feel A you've hit a subtle, rubber wall. 3. heck in with the client as to her pain or anxiety level; C tug the tissue down to the spine, toward the pubic bone, and medially toward the linea alba. But be careful! Pushing up or in could cause damage, so always tug tissue down. Hold for three to four breaths. 4. elease, and see if the client's breath has expanded. R You may choose to repeat the touch once or twice more. Freeing the Hourglass As we look at these traditional centers anchored up and down the spine, the first spot we'll consider isn't a chakra, but the gateway between the middle and low groups. If we have a constriction at this spot, our upper and lower body can't communicate, and we are strained throughout our body as a result. Our elevator is stuck between floors, between the third and fourth chakras at the diaphragm. The diaphragm is an umbrella-shaped muscle that forms the roof of the stomach and the floor of the heart (Image 1). It is anchored at its edges to the lower ribs, and its function is to push up and down, with the breath, in a way that moves air into and out of our lungs, expanding and contracting them. Too many of us have forgotten how to use this muscle and instead hold our breath. The diaphragm muscle can be thought of as the floor of the heart, the ceiling of the stomach, and the membrane that separates upper and lower chakras. Courtesy of Singing Dragon. 1 112 massage & bodywork The Sanskrit word chakra translates as "wheel" or "disc" because energy seems to spin forth from a chakra, or be stuck in it. The seven main chakras are usually defined as: • first chakra or root (between the anus and genitals) • second chakra or sacral (in the sex organs) • third chakra or solar plexus (the gut) • fourth chakra or heart • fifth chakra or throat • sixth chakra or third eye (just behind the eyes) • seventh chakra or crown (floating just above our head) In a healthy body, these centers work together to carry us on our journey toward awareness and vitality. I'd suggest you begin to see the chakras in groups of three: 1–3, 4–6, and 7. I associate the following phrases with each of these chakras: • root: instinctively survive without fear. • sacral: responsibly create without shame. • solar plexus: honestly discern without judgment. • heart: enthusiastically quest without yearning. • throat: freely express without censorship. • third eye: rationally think without worry. • crown: consciously thrive without limits. When any of these statements feels false, that portion of our body may be in trouble. may/june 2013