March 19, 2009 by Bruce Hembd

Archived under: Inspiration & The Big Picture   |   Off topic

The “Support from the Diaphragm” Myth


Last night, Randy on American Idol said something that made me go “oh boy.”

As the audience applause swelled before a transition to co-host Ryan Seaquest, Randy yelled “SUPPORT” and made an hand gesture holding the palm upward under his solar plexus.

My guess was that he was telling her that support comes from the diaphragm.

The diaphragm muscle moves down - to make room for the air coming into the lungs. The “support” actually comes from tightening the same muscles used for uhm…bathroom doody.

Abstractly, support and its energy should always goes down. Of late I have been hypnotically repeating a phrase to students -

breathe through your knees, blow to your toes…

It seems to remind them of several good habits at once:

  • To blow a downward airstream
  • To breathe from the bottom up – the diaphragm goes down, not up.

BRUCE HEMBD is a web marketing developer by day who plays French horn professionally at night.» More information about Bruce Hembd » More articles by Bruce Hembd » Contact

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The “Support from the Diaphragm” Myth
Published on March 19, 2009 by Bruce Hembd

Archived under: Inspiration & The Big Picture   |   Off topic
John Ericson & Bruce Hembd
on the French horn, brass related topics, and the field of classical music.