getting to know your diaphragm as part of your core

the thoracic diaphragm (or simply “diaphragm”) is the primary and most unique umbrella-like shaped muscle for respiration that lies between the thoracic (chest) and abdominal cavities. while difficult to perceive in the body at times, it is also a very important muscle in with respect to exercise, posture and in daily existence. what does this ultimately mean for your workouts? it means that because of its distinctive positioning, this muscle also affects your core conditioning.

the diaphragm’s muscle fibers attach to bones at inner surface of our bottom six ribs, at the front of the body at the sternum and at the back of the body at lower vertebrae. these muscle fibers converge at the central tendon which is attached to the connective tissue that surrounds the lungs. during inhalation and exhalation, the diaphragm (along with the muscles of the ribs) contracts and expands to create a suction to draw fresh oxygenated air into the lungs and then returns to its original shape to expel used air.

with respect to core muscles, the diaphragm is also connected to the postural muscles such as the transverse abdominus (your body’s own built in corset/weight belt), quadratus lumborum (back stabilizers) and iliopsoas (the hip flexors), creating an “upper roof” for these core muscles. its contraction not only affects lung capacity, but also affects the pressure in the abdominal wall and the activity of the abdominal muscles! so, you see, your breathing is indeed affected by your posture and vice versa. when we are aware of the diaphragm and consciously integrate our breathing into our workouts, we are maximizing its function and collaboration with our entire core.

when your fitness instructors remind you about your posture in cycling class or suggest ways in which you can manipulate your breath in yoga or pilates classes, it is more than just what it might seem. they are asking you to condition your core muscles by mobilizing one of the most influential muscles in respiration, posture and core abdominal conditioning. so listen carefully to what they say and key in to what your body is doing on the inside and out. with this focus, you will be able to find this important muscle and get it to work for you!

community in fitness

when you're around people who are active and have a healthy attitude about physical fitness, you are part of a very special community. you will find inspiration, many laughs and long-standing camaraderie amongst these people.

i’ve always loved the tagline “it’s not fitness, it’s life” for equinox fitness clubs. this declaration is quite accurate for me and the many of the dedicated friends and colleagues i've met through the fitness community. we often say how people approach their workout in the gym/studio is a direct reflection of how they live their lives outside of it.

people who consistently make time for their workouts are adaptable, sexy, vivacious, hopeful, driven and success-oriented. they deal with stress a little better. they aim to eat well and consider what they put in their bodies. generally speaking, their serotonin is at a good level and they know how great endorphins can be. they not only look good, but they smell good too!

consistent activity results in improved blood and oxygen circulation as well as digestive function which, in turn, effectively flushes out toxins that cause disease. with the management and prevention of disease, one naturally has a healthy state of mind. needless to say, this existence is quite attractive and pleases all of the senses - vision, smell, touch, etc...

i am so thankful for my spirited friends and colleagues in this community. our lifestyles have resulted in a great way to live. we inspire and motivate each other. we maintain a healthy sense of discipline and competition. from this, we all respect one another for our commitment to ourselves as individuals, knowing that we each are a direct reflection of our collective selves.

spinning sugar

every tuesday morning i spin now. i never thought i would want to get up as early as 5:45a to spin. but here i am! doing it! i dropped off for a while, but i'm pleased to say that my new favorite spin teacher, ronit koren, has filled a void that was once occupied by spinning great stacey griffith at equinox. stacey had a number of followers, i being one of them, who would religiously spin with her three times a week at noon. however, she has left us to create a new life elsewhere and for a while i was floating around "spinless" in westwood, getting fat and eating too many cupcakes. i had the yoga practice down, but i was struggling with my cardio.

but this class has become a treat that i now look forward to it every week! music is a huge part of the ride, for me, at least, so it took a while to find a great teacher who had just the right energy. a teacher that i love, andrea lawent, is too far away for me in hollywood.

ronit warms you up quickly out of your sleep, motivates you to maintain a high energy level and paces you out for the best challenge. you watch her move and want to move with the same amount of strength and ease. her music is driving, fun and heavy on bass. prime spots fill up fast! thank goodness for equinox's online bike booking, or else i'd have to get to class an hour before to sign up (which i NEVER would want to do that early on a weekday). thanks ronit!