It’s more than just a great song from Sting!

Have you ever considered what a lifetime of poor breathing does to your body? Or conversely, the vast implications of properly executed breathing?

Each breath either balances the acid/alkaline levels in the body (keeping cellular pH at its optimal level) or sets off a disruption in that homeostasis. When you breathe deeply and correctly from your diaphragm, your body chemistry is kept in balance.

It only takes five or six poorly performed breaths to start to push your pH levels towards imbalance. If not corrected, this disruption of pH has the potential to affect every chemical reaction in your body as well as the efficiency of your metabolism.

Breathing incorrectly for three minutes is enough to decrease the amount of oxygen to the brain and heart by 30%. Doctors and scientists tell us that if we breathe shallowly from our chests for years, we pre-dispose ourselves to a range of chronic illnesses – from heart disease to asthma to chronic fatigue.

I take every moment I can to just stop and inhale deeply a few times throughout the day, allowing my lungs to expand in all directions like a bellows; letting the diaphragm drop and my belly to expand outwards; my rib cage and lungs to push outwards, both in the front and back; shoulders relaxed. And then to just let it go….nice and easy.

Whenever I’m stopped at a traffic light when driving; waiting in line somewhere; walking the beach in the early morning; before I begin to eat; in the morning before getting out of bed and again at night before drifting off to la-la land. Everytime I remember to. To feed my body the food it needs to keep me alive and ticking.

Those seconds of deep breathing (most times with my eyes closed) also give my body a quick respite from the crazy momentum of my mind’s thoughts and my life.

When working with clients – particularly if the focus of the session is the respiratory system – I encourage my clients to take deep, noisy breaths (so many people don’t want you to hear them breathing!) from time to time. Sometimes, I’ll breathe deeply myself to signal their bodies to do the same.

I’ll give extra attention to the reflexes of the diaphragm, lungs, sinus and solar plexus, and watch my client’s breathing change as their body lets go into deep relaxation and natural breathing patterns resurface.

It’s so easy – if we just remember to.

I’m one of them!

The baby boomers – those of us born between 1946 and 1964. We make up 26% of the US population: 70 million people strong.

We’re the group that vowed to change the world – and we did! And fooled ourselves into believing we would never get old, or sick. Surprise!

A study conducted by the Merrill Lynch financial management company identified four baby boomer “healthystyles”:

Lucky, but Lax – 10%. This group may have been blessed with great genes and a healthy start to life. Because they have enjoyed a relatively healthy life so far, they lack interest or motivation in maintaining their health as they age. They don’t see the need to change anything that so far has worked just fine.

Healthy & Proactive. Twenty-nine percent (29%) engage in exercise & proper nutrition; maintain a positive attitude about their health and future. They recognize that self-care is health-care.

Course-correcting and Motivated – Another twenty-nine percent (29%) are starting to realize the importance of vital health, and taking steps to make up for past bad health habits. This group is eager to learn.

Challenged and Concerned. The largest group – 32% of baby boomers – are facing health challenges. These folks are not practicing good health habits, and are worried about their health.

Identifying to whom you are talking is necessary if you want to recommend someone receive reflexology on a regular basis. Each of these populations has different physical and psychological needs that must be met.

The Lucky ones can be encouraged to maintain their optimum health status by supporting all the operating systems of their body through a weekly (or even monthly) session designed to sustain their good luck.

The Proactive members are more likely to be taking advantage of – or, at least, open to – bodywork, yoga, meditation, etc. These people will appreciate knowing that you can focus your sessions to offer extra attention on certain systems or organs.

The Motivated group will see results from focused sessions as well, and will benefit from experiencing the results of deep relaxation. These folks will be grateful for referrals to other practitioners, educational literature and other resources that will support their decision to improve their health.

The Concerned category needs to relax. Start there – relaxation is the basis of health. Work on reflexes to the central nervous system, diaphragm, solar plexus and adrenals. The experience of deep relaxation might interest the client in learning other ways to feel better in their body and less anxious about the future. Be a resource; a coach to any in this group who want to make changes.

And what about you? What piece of the pie do you find yourself occupying?

We live in a complex world. Innovations in technology and communication expose us to an increasingly complex landscape that is changing more quickly than we can easily adapt to. Our biology is showing the effects of this constant assault. Our body-mind-spirits are fighting to adapt, to evolve, as we must; and that puts our systems under tremendous stress.

Clients today often present with a laundry list of conditions that may appear unrelated. Visits to medical specialists result in separate diagnoses and treatments designed to treat the symptoms individually. Certainly, a more integrative approach is needed for these clients. What to do?

I agree with Eric Moya, who wrote eloquently on this subject in the December issue of Massage Magazine, that we must honor the innate wisdom and resiliency of the human body and spirit to heal itself. I’m not responsible to heal my client; all I need do is provide a safe opportunity for that person to do his or her own work.

I am constantly reminding my students to keep it simple. Eager new reflexologists want to create a targeted session to address each of their client’s different health imbalances. I don’t think that’s necessary, possible, or the most efficacious approach.

Serving the depleted/exhausted client reminds me of a quote I read many years ago: “the more complex the disease, the simpler the remedy.” I am prompted to do less and just be more. To offer stillness, not “busy-ness”. An environment in which my clients can completely let go. A slow, loving full reflexology session designed simply to relax. Mindful, gentle contact on the solar plexus points along with deep, controlled breathing. And more stillness.

In a world that publicly celebrates personal struggle and achievement, I choose quiet relaxation, for I truly believe it is the basis of all health – body, mind and spirit. Namasté.