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i f The Clarington Independent, Bowmanville, Saturday. December 24.1994 15 Using Your Breath To Support and Relieve Your Back Submitted by Dr. Kathlynn Hoch, D.C. F.I.A.C.A. Breath is life. Full, complete breaths contribute to full and healthy lives. When our diaphragm expands completely, we can feel the long, deep breaths lengthen our spine, relaxing, relaxing, energizing and oxygenating it. Deep belly breathing, also called diaphragmatic breathing, helps circulate circulate our blood and stimulate our internal internal organs, and reduce pain and tension. tension. Our Doming Diaphragm Our diaphragm is a domed sheet of muscle separating our lungs and our abdomen. It expands down when our breath comes in and comes up when our breath goes out. Diaphragmatic Diaphragmatic breathing is the way we were designed to breathe. Watch babies. They use every bit of their belly, diaphragm diaphragm and lungs to breathe and howl - and flourish. As adults, we learn to guard our emotions and hold back their expression expression by restricting the movement of our diaphragm. Most of us become chest breathers instead of belly breathers. To reclaim the natural full range of our breath, we just need to release our diaphragm so that it can expand. When our diaphragm relaxes, relaxes, it not only pumps air into our abdomen, abdomen, it also tightens and strengthens strengthens our abdominal muscles - and our spine. Reductions Planned for Oshawa General Hospital During Holiday Season During the Christmas period from December 19, 1994 to January 1, 1995, some departments of Oshawa General Hospital will operate at reduced reduced staffing and service levels. This re-adjustment will be concentrated concentrated only in areas designated for non-urgent, routine and investigative procedures, and is designated to coincide coincide with a decreased need for services services by the community during the holi day season. "We have historically seen a decrease decrease in patient activity during the Christmas season," explains Oshawa General President David Home. "This reduction period is a means of coordinating our holiday downsizing activity with the savings required by the province's Social Contract Act." All essential services such as Emergency, Obstetrics and Intensive Care, etc., will operate at normal staffing levels. In addition, the Dialysis Dialysis Unit will maintain full service to accommodate the needs of dialysis patients. Most outpatient clinics, day hospital programs, and administrative and support departments will be staffed at reduced levels throughout this period. Oshawa General Hospital appreciates appreciates the continued support and understanding understanding of our community and our staff as we work together to maintain the highest standards of care and service for our patients. How To Belly Breathe You can practise belly breathing when you're standing, sitting or lying down. Start with your spine in alignment alignment and your belly soft. Remember to breathe through your nose, not' your mouth. The emphasis in belly breathing is on the exhalation. As your breath goes out, bring your abdomen abdomen back toward your spine. Pause when all the stale air has been pushed out. Pause. Then release your abdomen. Let the air flow freely into your lungs. Don't grasp for air or by to pull it in. Just let it pour naturally into the vacuum that the exhalation created. When you are comfortably filled with fresh new air and oxygen, pause again for a moment. Then bring your abdomen back toward your spine as you exhale. Repeat, again and again. Breathing To Relieve Pain Lie on your back with your feet by your hips. Relax into your basic belly breathing technique and rhythm. After several belly breaths, mentally scan your body to see where your pain is coming from. When you exhale, compress your breath out of that pain center. Pause. As the breath comes in, keep your attention on the pain center. Visualize your breath expanding expanding and circulating through the center of pain, then cairying the pain out of your body with the exhaled breath. Alternate three belly breaths with three pain clearing breaths. When you are ready to stop, rest quietly with your palms up. Breathing To Nourish The Spine Begin with three belly breaths. On your next outbreath, as your abdomen abdomen pulls back toward your spine, your chin comes slightly into your throat, the back of your neck opens and lengthens, the curves of your spine flatten,. and your entire back feels expanded and alive with your attention. Pause. As your breath comes in, your spine relaxes. Its curves return and you can sense new space and new sensation around the vertebrae. RELAX: Breathe and Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy Holiday Sea- son. The information in this column is of a general nature. Consult your health care professional for specific health concerns. Dr. Hoch, D.C., of the Bowmanville Family Chiropractic Chiropractic Centre and Clarington Rehabilita tion and Sport Injuries Clinic is in her eleventh year of private practice and has personally attended more than 30,000 patients. She works within within a health care team which includes a multi-disciplined approach, including including Chiropractic, Massage, homeopathy, homeopathy, Reflexology, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Medical and Psychotherapy Psychotherapy referrals. She supports and educates her patients to create conditions for Optimum Health. She has a large pediatric practice with a holistic approach. Sific Best Wishes fis yuletide bells ring out glad tidings, may your hearts be filled with joy. from Store Manager Alan Benest and Staff Loblaws Kingsway Village Shopping Plaza 1300 King St. E., Oshawa mort/ WW 1/1 vv\ etcemefS Cm^mswas nsvmféamr, HimewdensirMaers were w wiftvovere arms, 9eime To sum, C jods vmu) yraises in(wnwz amfysums. Onifvese modém/Thnes, WsModdc renrnnoef 1m mrtdër dms of^ fr'oasf <Decwwers wm^someitîms never cfma^Wsfrup.. Liltr tntraeep feftlnanhs rzUr,7C - ml ter. a from the Management and Staff of Macintosh Chrysler Plymouth Limited 331 Park Rd. South, Oshawa 290 North Pront Street Bellevi,, e Telephone 728-4638 Telephone (613) 966-8610