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The Diaphragm as the Gateway to the Unconscious Carlien van Heel My purpose in wri-ng this ar-cle, as with ‘Revisi-ng Gerda Boyesen’s Theory of Psychoperistalsis’, (van Heel, 2015) is to gain more insight into Gerda Boyesen’s understanding of the link between body, mind and spirit and into her extraordinary ability to support a psychotherapeu-c process by influencing physiological changes in the body. This ar-cle will focus on Boyesen’s understanding of the role of the diaphragm in breathing, emo-onal resilience, self-­‐regula-on, repression, pulsa-on and spiritual connec-on. I will first discuss why Gerda Boyesen saw the diaphragm as significant in psychotherapy. I will then give more detailed informa-on about emo-ons in the body, how the body deals with the repression of feelings, and how these repression paOerns get cleansed out of the body -ssues. This will be followed by a discussion of the structure and func-on of the diaphragm. I will then end the paper with a descrip-on of how Biodynamic Massage and Biodynamic Psychotherapy can help to increase flexibility in the diaphragm. Gerda Boyesen (1922–2005), the founder of Biodynamic Psychology, was a Norwegian psychologist and physiotherapist. She trained in Oslo in Reichian therapy and in the Bülow-­‐Hansen method of neuro-­‐muscular massage. Dr Olesen, a Danish physician, inspired her to work with fluid reten-on in the connec-ve -ssue. Boyesen developed her own form of body psychotherapy, Biodynamic Psychotherapy, aWer she moved to London in 1969. Biodynamic Psychotherapy is a form of body psychotherapy that is suppor-ve of natural organic processes. Why did Gerda Boyesen focus on the diaphragm? Clients come to psychotherapy for varied reasons, but they are likely to feel somehow out of balance in themselves or in one or more areas of their life. This imbalance will affect their ability to self-­‐regulate. Gerda Boyesen saw that good self-­‐regula-on in mind and body, the ability to process our upset or fears and to feel in touch with inner strength and a sense of aliveness in our body, is the basis for our sense of well-­‐being. She hypothesised that the diaphragm plays a major role in our capacity to connect to ourselves and our bodies and in our ability to process or regulate our emo-ons (Boyesen, 1985). I will try to explain below how she understood the func-on of the diaphragm and how she worked with the diaphragm in order to support a psychotherapeu-c process. !2
Boyesen was aware that the diaphragm is very closely involved with modula-ng how much we allow ourselves to feel. When the diaphragm is flexible, feelings are free-­‐flowing. When we want to suppress or hide our emo-onal responses, it will tense slightly, and when fear overwhelms us, it will tense strongly in an aOempt to keep the threatening sensa-ons and emo-ons at bay. In principle, the diaphragm will release and regain its flexibility when safety returns (Boyesen, 1985; Green, 2012; Stauffer, 2010). Our diaphragm is influenced by every movement and even thought. The way our breath moves, and the tone and movement of the diaphragm, is very individual (Green, 2012). Any of our skeletal muscles may be involved in the regula-on of emo-ons. We need muscle tone to allow or contain our feelings and to be able to act and express ourselves. Boyesen called this func-on ‘the motoric ego’ (Southwell, 1988). When muscle tension solidifies, we build up muscle armouring. We then lose flexibility of both body and character. Breathing will be restricted, because the diaphragm will be a crucial part of the armouring paOern. The diaphragm is the main defence muscle when we need to contain trauma. Boyesen writes: In Biodynamic Psychology the motoric ego is an emo4onal regulator, which means that muscular armour is also an emo4onal regulator that has become frozen, solidified in some way ... the motoric ego has the extremely important func4on of regula4ng the intensity of emo4ons. The effec4veness of this func4on depends on the strength of the ego, ac4ng through the motor system and the skeletal muscles. One muscle in par4cular is extremely important: the diaphragm. (Boyesen, G., 1985, Entre psyché et soma, English transla-on, p. 115) There are some clients who lack a healthy muscle tone in their diaphragm. These people may have difficulty managing their emo-ons and will be easily overwhelmed by life. They will need to build up more ‘motoric ego structure’. Once the diaphragm is free, simply relaxing can be enough to open the dynamic process. I call that ‘dynamic relaxa4on’. The diaphragm is the main defence in the body. For some people even relaxa4on is too provoca4ve. It is not just memories that may come up, but a vague or confused emo4onal pressure. This may not yet be recognisable as an emo4on, but it can make people agitated or depressed. (Boyesen, G., 1985, ‘How I Developed Biodynamic Psychotherapy’, transcript of lecture) !3
Gerda Boyesen used to talk about emo-ons rising up through the three hollows: the abdomen, the chest and the head. The pelvic floor muscles, the diaphragm, the throat muscles and the top of the skull are the horizontal boundaries of these cavi-es (Boyesen, 2001). She described the first hollow, the abdomen, as the place where an emo-on starts.1 We will sense the emo-on first as a variety of sensa-ons, such as a -ghtening, fluOery movements, or even nausea. These are mainly physical sensa-ons, as we are s-ll unaware of the emo-onal content. If the diaphragm is flexible enough, the emo-on will rise up into the second hollow, the chest. Boyesen saw this as the place where the physical sensa-ons become clearer to us as a feeling: ‘I am feeling anxious’, ‘I am feeling upset’, ‘I am heavy-­‐hearted’, etc. If we are able to express these feelings and the emo-on passes through the throat and reaches into the third hollow of the head and brain, then we may get relevant images, memories and insights. For example, we may remember an incident, when we were young, which gave us a huge shock. The emo-onal charge or ‘dynamic updriW’ (Boyesen, 1985), which at first was just an uncomfortable sensa-on, now makes sense. If at the -me we held back the scream or crying that would have released the shock, and we were never helped to process the frighful event, the shock will have goOen stuck in our body. If we bear in mind that the ins4nctual emo4onal energy rises up from the depths of the id canal, from the intes4nal walls, we can understand the crucial role of the diaphragm. When this huge muscle contracts and lowers, it prevents energy from rising up into the chest cavity and moving outward into the zones of emo4onal expression: the throat, the arms, the hands. When, on the other hand, we are willing to express an emo4on, the diaphragm pulsates and helps to push energy upwards with a pumping ac4on. (Boyesen, G., 1985, Entre psyché et soma, English transla-on, p.115) Dr Berit Heir Bunkan, a Norwegian physiotherapist and psychologist who knew Gerda Boyesen from when they both trained with Aadel Bülow-­‐Hansen, recently gave a workshop in London. She talked about three diaphragms and their interconnectedness. The upper diaphragm consists of the floor of the mouth, lips, tongue, palate, larynx, pharynx, infrahyoid and suprahyoid muscles, sternocleidomastoid muscles, trapezius and inner ear. The middle diaphragm is the thoracic diaphragm that I am describing in this ar-cle, and the lower diaphragm consists of the pelvic floor 1
Gerda Boyesen felt that the walls of the intes-nes, with their huge surface area and vast network of neural connec-ons, were strongly involved in emo-onal excita-on and emo-onal release. She called the alimentary canal the ‘id canal‘. (See also my ar-cle, ‘Revisi-ng Gerda Boyesen’s theory of psychoperistalsis’, 2015.)
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muscles. These three diaphragms form the major loci of holding against free breathing (Bunkan, 1991). Bunkan’s three diaphragms relate to Gerda Boyesen’s ‘three hollows’. According to Bunkan, the three diaphragms are interconnected. The floor of the mouth is aOached to the pharynx and larynx. The pharynx moves up and down and the whole structure is linked to the middle (thoracic) diaphragm via the oesophagus. If the middle diaphragm is -ght it will influence the upper area and vice versa. The middle diaphragm regulates the pressure in the abdomen and the chest. If the pressure in the abdominal cavity can’t be released, then the diaphragm can’t be released. The thoracic diaphragm is also connected to the pelvic floor (lower diaphragm) via the quadratus lumborum muscles and the psoas muscles (Bunkan, 1991). Bunkan showed how, by focussing on opening the upper or lower diaphragms, we could s-mulate release in the thoracic diaphragm. Recent research by, for example, Thomas Myers (2014) in his book ‘Anatomy Trains’ suggests an interconnec-vity throughout the body through the myofascial2 web. When I use the term diaphragm in this ar-cle, I am referring to the thoracic/middle diaphragm. Gerda Boyesen’s own diaphragm used to be very -ght. In her book Entre psyché et soma she related that it was the freeing of her diaphragm, through the neuro-­‐muscular massages of Aadel Bülow-­‐Hansen, that deepened her therapeu-c process. Her earlier Reichian analysis with Ola Raknes,3 although hugely significant and important, did not touch the deeper unconscious layers that she could only reach once her diaphragm had regained its flexibility (Boyesen, 1985). For Boyesen, the diaphragm therefore played a very important role in her diagnosis and treatment. As long as the diaphragm was inflexible, the psychotherapy was more superficial. But when the diaphragm began to be free to move spontaneously, then the work went deeper. Repressed material then begins to become conscious so it can be worked with. I call the diaphragm ‘the gateway to the unconscious’. The surfacing of the repressed material I call the ‘dynamic updriO’. Emo4ons ‘on top of the diaphragm’ are superficial. Emo4ons ‘from under the diaphragm’ I call ‘dynamic’. When we reach the dynamic process, the 2
Myofascia – the inseparable nature of muscle -ssue (myo-­‐) and its accompanying web of connec-ve -ssue (fascia) (Myers, 2014)
3
Ola Raknes (1887–1975) was a Norwegian psychologist, philologist and writer. He studied psychoanalysis at the Berlin Psychoanaly-c Ins-tute and met Wilhelm Reich in 1934. He became one of Reich’s closest students and life-­‐
long friend.
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psychotherapy can really work deep. (Boyesen, G., 1985, ‘How I Developed Biodynamic Psychotherapy’ transcript of lecture) Boyesen focussed on s-mula-ng the unconscious breath. She was aware that the breath is both a conscious and an unconscious ac-vity, because it is controlled by both the voluntary and involuntary branches of the peripheral nervous system through the phrenic nerves.4 This ‘dual’ control of breathing makes it a useful tool in therapy as it sits right on the border between the conscious and the unconscious, which is the same border where psychotherapy takes place. Conscious breathing techniques are used in many complementary therapies and medita-on schools as a stepping stone into the unconscious. However, Boyesen would, in general, not work with conscious breathing. She would not ask her clients to breathe. She wanted to affect the unconscious breath and she would do it through focusing on the diaphragm, both her own and her clients’. She would aOune to the natural, organic, involuntary breath responses of the client. The diaphragm can also be a gateway to spiritual experiences. One reason why Gerda Boyesen was such an intui-ve and excellent therapist was, I believe, because her diaphragm had such excellent tone. She knew how to self-­‐regulate and keep it flexible. This is another dimension to working with the diaphragm. To achieve this level of flexibility in oneself can take many years of personal work. When the diaphragm really ‘swings’ freely (Green, 2012), it can allow a wide range of feelings to be felt. When we can keep our diaphragm flexible we are open to our experience. This openness and willingness to modulate the ego control, this surrender to fully feeling, opens the gate to spiritual experiences – to experiencing ourselves as part of a wider universe. Life then takes on a deeper meaning and dimension. Then it is as if the breath itself breathes us. It is the breath that holds up our posture. We do not need to tense any muscles. During my own therapy, Aadel Bülow-­‐Hansen brought me to a point that went even beyond free and complete thoracic respira4on: my back straightened up completely and the posi4on of my head changed. That was when I understood that there was no need to tense my muscles in order to ‘hold’ my back upright; the unrestricted flow of breathing itself holds the back in its correct straight posi4on. So it is possible to ‘stand up straight’ and yet remain relaxed. 4
The phrenic nerves contain motor, sensory and sympathe-c nerve fibers. !6
(Boyesen, G.,1985, Entre psyché et soma, English transla-on, p. 31) The diaphragm oWen needs outside help to reset its tone. Later in this ar-cle, I will describe several methods Boyesen used to affect the flexibility of the diaphragm. A closer look at emoAons, repression and release We experience our emo-ons on a mental and physical level. For example, we can sense that we are angry when our jaw muscles and fists are tensing. We might feel our chest collapse and our knees buckle when in deep grief. We can also be partly aware of emo-ons on a ‘vegeta-ve’ (autonomic) level; we might sweat or get diarrhoea when anxious or feel the tears flowing when we are sad. However, emo-onal experience arises from deep autonomic processes below our consciousness. The neuroscien-st Antonio Damasio (2000, 2004) describes emo-ons as, in essence, neural and hormonal communica-ons with the brain. Each emo-on arises as a response to a percep-on or a thought in the brain. The brain communicates this percep-on to the body and myriad hormones and neurotransmiOers get s-mulated and prepare the body for ac-on or expression. Hormones are taken to the area of ac-on through increased blood flow, and nerve impulses to s-mulate certain muscles will increase. These hormones and neurotransmiOers need to be cleared out again once the event that triggered the emo-onal response has passed. This cleansing process happens through the absorp-on of the chemicals and waste products into the lymph vessels and veins which transport them to the kidneys and liver. However, lymph vessels and veins need movement in order to func-on well. The necessity of mo-on is actually twofold; it is needed for the absorp-on of the chemicals and waste products from the inters--al fluid5 , as well as for their transporta-on, as the fluids in the lymph vessels and veins tend to flow against the force of gravity. The skeletal muscle pump, the -ssue pulsa-ons and the small valves throughout the lymph vessels and veins make this possible. Gerda Boyesen hypothesised that when an emo-on is repressed and cannot complete its natural cycle – of charge (building up to ac-on), discharge (acknowledgement or expression) and recupera-on (return to homeostasis)6 – it needs to be contained. When an emo-on is repressed, 5
Inters--al fluid is the fluid in the spaces in between the cells. Nutrients and oxygen diffuse from the capillaries into the inters--al fluid where they are taken up by the cells. The same diffusion process happens when waste products are expelled by the cells into the inters--al fluid and are then diffused back into the lymph tubes and veins. 6
Homeostasis – the ability or tendency of an organism or a cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjus-ng its physiological processes. The term was first defined by Claude Bernard in 1865.
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muscles contract, the diaphragm tenses and the whole area (that had been supplied by an increased flow of blood filled with hormones and neurotransmiOers in order to prepare the muscles for ac-on) now needs to be numbed and becomes sta-c. Lymph vessels and veins can’t drain the -ssues efficiently, because there isn’t enough movement and pulsa-on in this numbed area. The hormones and neurotransmiOers will remain in the inters--al fluid and aWer a while connec-ve -ssue fibres will thicken and encapsulate them. This was Boyesen’s way of explaining how repressed emo-ons may lie dormant in the body -ssues. When, through therapy or massage, the old emo-on gets triggered again or the numbed area enlivens, the connec-ve -ssue will become more fluid (Thixotropy7), releasing the ‘old’ hormones. Gerda Boyesen hypothesised that the old emo-onal charge s-ll wants to rise up towards the face and arms for expression and starts to ‘impinge’ again, trying to complete its cycle and become conscious. If the diaphragm is flexible enough, the past event and feelings can now be felt, acknowledged and integrated. The ‘old’ emo-onal charge will then be cleared out of the body -ssues, leaving the body more alive and pulsa-ng. The diaphragm itself plays an important role in s-mula-ng pulsa-on throughout the body. Diaphragma-c movement massages the internal organs and greatly s-mulates all the metabolic processes and the cleansing of the -ssues. As the diaphragm never rests, it creates con-nuous pulsa-on. And, of course, the more flexible our diaphragm is, the deeper we can breathe. A fuller breath will bring more oxygen to all our cells, which will increase cell pulsa-on and metabolism. Gerda Boyesen was very aware of the importance of the cleansing of the body -ssues by the veins and lymph vessels, which need movement and pulsa-on to do this. Every sympathe-c ac-vity (ac-on, fight or flight) should be followed by parasympathe-c ac-vity (cleansing, regenera-on) for op-mal func-on and a sense of well-­‐being so that the body can return to homeostasis. Boyesen realised that as her clients’ bodies and her own became more fluid and cleansed, they would start to experience pleasure streamings (Boyesen, 1980). She saw these pleasure streamings as part of our connec-on to the life force. Most adults have lost touch with their libido force.8 Boyesen linked losing touch with the libido force to the development of neurosis, which deadens and blocks our body -ssues. Boyesen discovered that the fluid streamings not only gave an inner sense of 7
Thixotropy – the property exhibited by certain gels (including connec-ve -ssue) of becoming liquid when s-rred or shaken (Juhan, 1987; Myers, 2014).
8
Libido force – same as life force. Libido is a Freudian term used to describe a force that organises all of the dynamics of the organism and pushes it to maximise its pleasure in general and sexual pleasure in par-cular (Heller, 2012).
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pleasure and harmony, but would also s-mulate crea-vity, vitality, love and a deeper sense of meaning and connec-on to all of life. She called this being in touch with one’s ‘Primary Personality’ (Boyesen, 1980). Many of Boyesen’s methods focus on encouraging this cleansing process. She developed ‘psychoperistalsis’9 as a means to support parasympathe-c ac-vity of the autonomic nervous system (Boyesen, 1985; van Heel, 2015). Before describing the therapeu-c methods Boyesen used in her work with the diaphragm, it will be useful to gain more understanding of the structure and func-on of the diaphragm and its connec-on to breathing. The structure and funcAon of the diaphragm The diaphragm, also known as the thoracic diaphragm, is a large horizontal skeletal muscle right in the centre of the body, as if dividing it in two. It is connected to muscles, bones and connec-ve -ssue all the way around and is close to the vital organs, i.e. the heart, lungs, liver and stomach. It is a strong skeletal muscle with a core of fibrous -ssue. There are three small openings in the diaphragm: the caval opening for the vena cava; the aor-c hiatus through which the aorta passes; and the oesophageal hiatus for the oesophagus, through which food descends on its way to the stomach. The phrenic and vagus nerves also pass through the diaphragm. Diaphragma-c mo-on massages the liver and the stomach and brings movement into the whole belly. Some of the fibrous connec-ons of the diaphragm pass over the quadratus lumborum and the psoas muscles (Stauffer, 2010; Myers, 2014).10 The connec-on between the psoas and the diaphragm joins the top and boOom of the body, it joins breathing to walking (Myers, 2014). In the thoracic cavity the diaphragm is connected to the pericardium, the connec-ve -ssue sac that surrounds the heart. As a person inhales, the heart is gently squeezed. As a person exhales, more blood flows into the heart. The movement of the diaphragm influences the whole body. The diaphragm is shaped like a dome11 , or, as Anat Ben-­‐Israel, a dear colleague and friend, 9
Psychoperistalsis – Gerda Boyesen found, in the peristal-c movement of the intes-nal walls, a built-­‐in recovery system. She discovered that she could influence peristal-c movements through aOuned aOen-on and touch and that this was an accessible key to the whole autonomic nervous system. 10
Thomas w. Myers writes in Anatomy Trains, 2014,p.198 – The upper end of the psoas blends fascially with the crura and other posterior aOachments of the diaphragm, all of which blend with the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL), running up the front of the vertebral bodies and discs. 11
2014)
The diaphragm actually consists of two domes, the centres of which are located under the lungs. (Meyers, !9
described it poe-cally, like the roof of a beau-ful cathedral. We can only touch the edges of the diaphragm where it connects to the xiphoid process at the boOom of the sternum, the ribcage (ribs 6–12) and the spine (vertebrae T12 and L1 and L2). It is difficult to manipulate the muscle directly. The diaphragm is the main breathing muscle, and, it is the only skeletal muscle that never rests. There is constant movement: a gentle pulsa-on of expansion and contrac-on in the core of our body. Other breathing muscles are the intercostal muscles between the ribs, the abdominal muscles and muscles in the neck and collarbone area. Centres in our brain regulate the diaphragm via the phrenic nerves and the diaphragma-c movement then s-mulates our breathing. During inhala-on the diaphragm contracts and moves downwards, pushing out the abdomen and crea-ng suc-on which draws in the air and expands the lungs. During exhala-on, the diaphragm relaxes and the chest contracts again, pushing the air out. We take in around 20,000 breaths every 24 hours, which is a lot of diaphragma-c movement. The inhala-on mainly consists of nitrogen, almost 78%; oxygen, around 20%; and carbon dioxide, around 1%. The exhala-on consists mainly of nitrogen, almost 78%; oxygen, around 16%; and carbon dioxide, around 4%. There are two kinds of respira-on: external and internal respira-on. External respiraAon is the inhala-on of oxygen (O2) and the exhala-on of carbon dioxide (CO2). In external respira-on air circulates in the top half of the body. The air enters our body through our mouth or nose and reaches the lungs through the pharynx, the larynx and the trachea tubes. In the lungs the bronchi branch out into smaller bronchioles and at the end of these bronchioles are the alveoli sacs. This is where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide happens. It is awe-­‐inspiring to appreciate the speed of the never-­‐ending exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that happens with each in-­‐ and out-­‐breath, around 20,000 -mes a day. Internal respiraAon takes over when the blood picks up the oxygen at this interchange in the alveoli. The blood circula-on delivers the oxygen to cells all over the body, and veins pick up the waste gases from these cells to be transported back to the lungs for exhala-on. Another amazing process! The diaphragm is controlled by the respiratory centres located mainly in the brainstem’s medulla oblongata and pons (Guyton and Hall, 2011). The axons from the medullary neurons extend to the !10
two phrenic nerves. The phrenic nerves arise from the neck from the third, fourth and fiWh cervical nerves (C3–C5) and s-mulate the diaphragm to contract or relax. There are also sensors in our body, in the blood vessels, muscles and lungs that play a role in the control of our breathing, by passing on informa-on to the region in the brain stem. Breathing is also influenced by the emo-onal centres in the limbic area of the brain. These emo-onal centres in the limbic area connect to the brainstem breath control areas and from there influence the phrenic nerves. Voluntary control of the diaphragm comes from the neo-­‐cortex and travels via the thalamus and limbic area to the respiratory spinal motor nerves, which travel through the phrenic nerves to the diaphragm. Voluntary control bypasses the respiratory centre in the brainstem (Green, 2012). It is interes-ng to see that while emo-onal responses connect to the involuntary respiratory centre in the brainstem area, voluntary control of breathing does not. Chronic tension can make the diaphragm lose its elas-city. When we have chronic tension or lack of tone in the diaphragm, the breath will move to the other breathing muscles in the areas that can s-ll move, in order to compensate for the areas that are held -ght. We can for example become belly or neck breathers. The diaphragm itself is dependent on the tonus of the surrounding muscles to move freely. There are many muscles that can obstruct full breathing func-oning. Diaphragma-c movement s-mulates our basic life pulsa-on. Each living cell breathes, takes in nourishment and expels waste products. Each cell goes through a process of charge and discharge, a basic pulsatory movement: the source of our feeling of aliveness. This basic life pulsa-on supports all ac-vi-es, including parasympathe-c ac-vity and the cleansing of our -ssues by the veins and lymph vessels. The diaphragm is also involved in non-­‐respiratory func-ons like vomi-ng and defeca-ng by increasing intra-­‐abdominal pressure. It also helps prevent acid reflux by exer-ng pressure on the oesophagus as it passes through the oesophagus hiatus. Releasing diaphragmaAc tension through Biodynamic Massage and Biodynamic Psychotherapy Gerda Boyesen would always watch her client’s breathing and diaphragm movement. She would use different techniques, depending on the density and severity of the muscle armouring. She would diagnose how much her client was in touch with their body sensa-ons and emo-ons and assess the energe-c permeability and suppleness of their body -ssues. Boyesen used Deep Draining massage, which is based on the Bülow-­‐Hansen methods, and/or !11
Bioenerge-c exercises to work with strong and dense muscle armouring. Deep Draining works deeply on muscle tension. The more we can release the muscle contrac-ons, the more our body can resume its natural posture. Releasing the diaphragm is one of the main focuses in Deep Draining, as it was in the Bülow-­‐Hansen method. As we can only reach the edges of the diaphragm, the way to release diaphragma-c tension is through working on the muscles in the back and other muscles that constrict the breathing. Deep Draining works with all the skeletal muscles in the body, as well as with the myofascial web (Myers, 2014). Berit Bunkan’s understanding of how the three diaphragms (upper, middle and lower) are connected and influence each other, also helps to explain how full body massage may release tension in the thoracic diaphragm. Describing her work in the Bülow-­‐Hansen clinic, Boyesen wrote: The procedure was not complicated: we simply observed where the breathing was blocked and felt the contracted muscles with our fingers. Then, by massaging the blocked areas, liVle by liVle we removed all the obstacles that prevented the breath from expanding and moving freely, un4l the full natural respiratory flow was restored. (Boyesen, G.,1985, Entre psyché et soma, English transla-on, p.32) Apart from Deep Draining, Boyesen devised several massage techniques (around twelve different forms) to address different levels of tension or emo-onal imbalances in the client. They all can, in principle, help address individual levels of diaphragm tension. Each of the Biodynamic Massage techniques can be used with different inten-ons. The more we focus on releasing the diaphragm and the breath, the more emo-onal impact the treatment will have. When we block an emo-on it is not only the muscles that hold the conflict and contract. The whole connec-ve -ssue area around the muscles and even the electromagne-c field around us is involved (Brennan, 1988). When the muscle tension has dissolved, the emo-onal charge can s-ll be held in the connec-ve -ssue as an energe-c fluid12 blockage (see also above). Gerda Boyesen developed the different Biodynamic Massages to address these varying forms of obstruc-on to free-­‐flowing life force energy. I’d like to share here a memory of watching Gerda Boyesen work with an energe-c fluid blockage in the area of the diaphragm through aura13 work. She understood that the client’s diaphragm 12
Energe-c fluid – Gerda Boyesen’s term to describe the hormonal charge that is s-ll lying dormant in the inters--al fluid when there is lack of movement and cleansing due to emo-onal repression.
13
Aura – the electromagne-c energy field that surrounds the whole human body (Brennan, 1988)
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tension was holding down the release of repressed emo-ons. She chose to release the energe-c fluid held in the diaphragm through working in the electromagne-c energy field that surrounds the body rather than working directly on the body. Gerda Boyesen was a master at working with the aura and it made for quite a spectacular experience. During my training, Gerda Boyesen worked with one of my colleagues on a maOress in the middle of the group room. The group process had s-rred up old emo-ons in this colleague and Boyesen wanted to help bring the emo-onal charge through and facilitate an emo-onal release. The release would help melt the old repression paOern and these past experiences, held in the energe-c fluid, could then finally be integrated, which would free the person in body and mind. So far, my colleague had only felt uncomfortable sensa-ons. The diaphragm tension (fluid block in connec-ve -ssue) was s-ll keeping the old emo-ons at bay. Gerda Boyesen understood that the diaphragm was ready to let go. If the diaphragm tension were too strong, there would not be an emo-onal charge pushing up. The process was ripe. She could see a slight, spontaneous trembling in the diaphragm. With one hand, she drew a spiral in the aura above the diaphragm area (never draw an energe-c spiral above the heart area). Once she felt she had got hold of the energy field above the diaphragm, she carefully pulled the energy field like an invisible string away from the diaphragm, all the -me keeping hold of the energe-c connec-on. She then walked slowly further and further away from the colleague, to the other side of the group room. At a precise moment, she gave this ‘auric string’ a sharp liOle pull. Suddenly my colleague on the maOress burst into sobs and tears. Boyesen had released the last hold of the diaphragm and the emo-onal charge could now come through. The previously unfinished emo-ons could come back to consciousness and be reintegrated. The colleague would feel lighter, as her body and mind were now freed from this old emo-onal repression paOern. Boyesen had released the fluid blockage around the diaphragm by pulling and freeing the dense energy field around the diaphragm, which increased movement and cleansing and liberated the charge. Now the breathing, along with the emo-onal expression, could really open. The breath and expression brought stronger pulsa-on which would s-mulate ever more -ssue cleansing. As described at the beginning of this ar-cle, the diaphragm is closely involved in allowing ourselves to feel. In order to allow feelings, we need to feel safe and contained. Biodynamic Psychotherapists are trained to create a sense of safety through our therapeu-c presence and aOuned aOen-on. When the client feels safe, the diaphragm will relax and the breath will deepen, provided there is not too much muscular tension. This feeling of safety is conveyed through our hands and presence during Biodynamic Massage, but aOuned aOen-on can be given with or without touch. As Gerda !13
Boyesen was very aware of her own body and was able to soWen her own diaphragm and go into a recep-ve spiritual state, she could bring a huge amount of therapeu-c presence to her sessions. This would greatly enhance the sense of safety and holding that the client experienced and freed their breath, strengthening the therapeu-c process. I’d like to finish this paper with Gerda Boyesen’s own words on the subject, transcribed from a video made in 1986 by two of her advanced students, Ursa Deniflee and Daniel Guirtzman: When I want to get somebody deep, I always look at their breathing. If a person is lying on the massage table or on the therapy couch or they are siWng and I see them holding their breath all the 4me, this is a defence. And in order to be really in contact with themselves and also then with me, I have to get the breathing going and that I can do without telling them. I find it not helpful at all to speak about the breathing, not at all. It’s like exercises. But I change the way I am, the way I speak, so they calm down in the body and their unconscious breathing will start and that is the most important. There can be a very hypersensi4ve person with a massage where I mustn’t produce anything more of the unconscious energy. There I am not working with the breathing at all, there I am on the mechanical level, there I am not looking at the breathing. I don’t want any more breathing defence to go. When I work with psychotherapy with words and I want the breathing and I see it coming by giving 4me, by being understanding, by being pa4ent, by just being there, I go into the 4melessness and go into my temple. That means to go into the part which is the right hemisphere with the rhythms of the universe and then it comes by itself. Many thanks to Clover Southwell for her help in structuring my thoughts around this subject and for her con-nuing inspira-on, warmth and wealth of knowledge and understanding of Biodynamic Psychology, to Dr Elya Steinberg for checking the medical facts, to Albert van Eeghen for his physiological input and to Daphne Tagg for her help with edi-ng. London, October 2016 Carlien van Heel !14
Bibliography Boadella, David, 1987, Lifestreams: An Introduc4on to Biosynthesis, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London and New York Boyesen, Gerda, 1985, Between Psyche and Soma, unpublished MS; French edi-on 1985, Entre Psyché et Soma, trans. Paul Gerome, Payot, Paris Boyesen, Gerda, 1985?, ‘How I Developed Biodynamic Psychotherapy’, transcript of lecture, December 1985 ‘?’ Boyesen, Gerda, 1980, The Primary Personality and its Rela4onship to the Streamings, Collected Papers, London, Biodynamic Psychology publica-on, pp. 11–20 Boyesen, Gerda, and Boyesen, Mona-­‐Lisa, 1980, Founda4on for Biodynamic Psychology Part 1: Spontaneous Movements and Visceral Armour, Collected Papers, London, Biodynamic Psychology publica-on, pp. 123–32 Boyesen, Gerda, 2001, ‘Body Psychotherapy is a Psychotherapy’, in The Flesh of the Soul: The Body we Work With, ed. Michael Heller, Peter Lang, Bern, pp. 33–44 Brennan, Barbara Ann, 1988, Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing through the Human Energy Field, New York, Bantam Bunkan, Berit Heir, 1991, ‘ The Diaphragm – Between Body and Emo-ons’, in Energy and Character, the Journal of Biosynthesis, Abbotsbury Publica-ons, vol 22 no.2, September 1991 Daemion, Jonathan, 1989, The Healing Power of Breath: An Introduc4on to Wholis4c Breath Therapy, Prism Press Damasio, Anthony, 2000, The Feeling of What Happens, London, Vintage, Random House Damasio, Anthony, 2004, Looking for Spinoza, London, Vintage, Random House Deniflee, Ursula, and Guirtzman, Daniel, 1986, film script: Gerda Boyesen speaking about her work Green, Ivy, 2012, The Role of the Diaphragm in Self-­‐awareness and Transforma4on, !15
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