Harnessing the Five Diaphragms –Christian Breathwork Retreat in Los Cabos

By Brittany Poliska, Fun and Easy Health

April 6, 2026

Do you ever notice how your breathing shifts when you’re under stress? As a practitioner of Sacral Occipital Therapies (SOT) and breath‑unwinding techniques, I’ve seen the way our breath mirrors our innermost emotions. In my own journey and in working with clients, I’ve come to understand that breath is the main pump that moves the body’s life force – called chi (qi) in Chinese medicine and ki in Japanese. Taoist master Mantak Chia reminds us that the word qi literally means “breath” and refers to the raw air we breathe in and out. Even the Bible affirms the importance of breath: “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”.

Recently, I started reading The Emotion Code: Updated & Expanded Edition by Dr. Bradley Nelson, which features a foreword by personal‑development legend Tony Robbins. In the introduction, Dr. Nelson notes that sometimes “emotions do not process completely”, and the energy of those feelings becomes trapped inside the body. Tony Robbins’ endorsement speaks volumes about the power of this work. This resonates deeply with my experience as a bodyworker: when people undergo an unsettling event, they unconsciously hold their breath. Breath‑holding is part of the nervous system’s freeze response – when the brain perceives a threat, breathing slows or even stops, the diaphragm tightens, and movement gets restricted. Unless we gently restore the flow of breath and release trapped emotions, those patterns can remain locked in our tissues.

At Grace That Sets Us Free, our upcoming women’s retreat in Los Cabos, I will be sharing a powerful synthesis of Scripture, science/physics, and holistic therapies. In this blog, I’ll explain how the body’s five diaphragms interact with breath and emotion, how the Sacral Occipital Technique and unwinding can help realign this system, and how partnering with God can lead to outstanding, miraculous breakthroughs. You’ll also see why leaders like Tony Robbins and best‑selling author Suzanne Eller are influencing how we approach emotional and spiritual health.

Understanding the Body’s Five Diaphragms

In osteopathic medicine, the body has five key diaphragms – horizontal structures that influence fluid flow, nervous system balance, and posture. These diaphragms are closely connected and work like pumps that help our life force circulate.

They include the cranial/occipital diaphragm, the tongue and oral diaphragm, the thoracic outlet (upper thoracic or cervical diaphragm), the respiratory diaphragm, and the pelvic floor. A blog from Healthwise Osteopathy explains that these five structures move rhythmically with each breath and help move gases, fluids, and aid peristalsis of the gut. To visualize this, think of your body as a series of opposing dorsals, domes, or hammocks:

1. Cranial diaphragm (tentorium cerebelli): A membrane inside the skull that separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum. It helps regulate cerebrospinal fluid flow and is connected to the occipital bone and spine.

2. Tongue/Oral diaphragm: Includes the tongue, floor, and roof of the mouth. The tongue and its attachments influence neck posture, breathing, and cranial structures.

3. Thoracic outlet (lower cervical diaphragm): Located at the base of the neck between the collarbone and first rib, this area houses accessory breathing muscles and vital nerves; poor breathing patterns and stress can lead to thoracic outlet syndrome, jaw pain, and headaches.

4. Respiratory diaphragm: The dome‑shaped muscle under the lungs that separates the thorax from the abdomen. It descends on inhalation and springs back on exhalation, drawing air into the lungs and influencing abdominal pressure.

5. Pelvic floor diaphragm: Muscles forming the bottom of the pelvic bowl; they mirror the respiratory diaphragm’s movement and support the bladder, intestines, and reproductive organs.

When any of these diaphragms become tight or misaligned, the movement of fluids and nerves gets restricted. Treating them as an integrated system is a hallmark of osteopathic and craniosacral work. As we release tension in one diaphragm, the others often respond by softening and realigning with each breath.

Breath, Emotions, and Trapped Energy

Breath is not only a mechanical function but also an emotional barometer. The Emotion Code notes that for reasons we don’t yet understand, emotions can become trapped and fail to process completely. Tony Robbins’ foreword underscores the relevance of this concept for anyone committed to personal development. These trapped emotions manifest as energetic blockages that linger in the body and can contribute to physical or emotional symptoms.

Modern trauma research echoes this idea. When the brain registers a threat, and the autonomic nervous system shifts into fight‑or‑flight or freeze, breath‑holding is part of the freeze response; the diaphragm tightens, and the movement of breathing becomes restricted. For trauma survivors, shallow chest breathing or breath‑holding can persist even in everyday situations, reflecting a nervous system stuck in hyper arousal. Slow, controlled breathing activates the vagus nerve, signaling safety and shifting the body toward rest and recovery.

In Eastern traditions, the life force that animates us is literally called breath. Mantak Chia explains that chi (also spelled qi or ki) is simply the Chinese word for breath and refers to the raw air we breathe in and out. Our organs refine this raw breath into energy that fuels our cells. When breath is impaired, the flow of this life force is disrupted.

Combining these perspectives, we see that restoring healthy breathing patterns helps release trapped emotions, regulate the nervous system, and revive our life force. It’s no wonder that Tony Robbins highlights emotional processing as key to unlocking our potential; when breath flows freely, our body and spirit can too.

Sacral Occipital Technique (SOT) and Unwinding

Sacral Occipital Technique (SOT) is a gentle chiropractic approach developed by Major Bertrand DeJarnette. Rather than focusing on individual symptoms, SOT evaluates the dural meningeal system (the tough membranes around the brain and spinal cord) to identify patterns of dysfunction and make corrections.

According to Ewell Chiropractic, SOT is a comprehensive, gentle, and innovative method that focuses on the relationship between the sacrum (base of the spine) and the occiput (base of the skull). This technique recognizes that the spine, pelvis, and cranium house the nervous system, which is surrounded by the dural‑meningeal system and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). By correcting imbalances in these structures, SOT helps restore the rhythmic motion of CSF, align vertebrae, and ease pressure on nerves.

SOT practitioners use a category system to identify patterns of subluxation or postural distortion. Category One is directly related to the diaphragm and breathing patterns and describes restricted sacroiliac joints that impair cerebrospinal fluid dynamics from the fight-or-flight-freeze state of the locked pelvis and cranial bones. Category Two involves hyper-mobile sacroiliac joints and can affect proprioception and joints throughout the body due to the weakening of the joints and ligaments. Category Three reflects a progression of instability that may lead to nerve irritation and symptoms like low back pain due to slipped and injured disks. These categories guide me in selecting the appropriate block placements, SOT, and unwinding techniques.

Unwinding techniques complement SOT by addressing fascial tension and emotional holding patterns. During an unwinding session, the practitioner places their hands on two diaphragms (such as the cranial and pelvic) and follows subtle movements of the tissues and breath. As the body responds, the fascia begins to release spontaneously, much like allowing a coiled chord to unwind. Clients often describe sensations of warmth, tingling, or emotional release as the dura mater softens and vertebrae gently realign. This work supports organ function, improves lymphatic drainage, helps people reconnect with their bodies, and reduces stress more than any other technique. I often recommend another driver for the person for sessions lasting over 60 minutes, or to wait at least 20 minutes after the session to drive, since the parasympathetic nervous system can be activated to balance the hypertension of the overstimulated sympathetic nervous system.

From my perspective, breath is the bridge that ties these techniques together, but everything from the physical to the non-physical (or vice versa). As we align the cranial and pelvic diaphragms with the rhythm of the respiratory diaphragm, the body finds a new balance. The fascia and connective tissues become supple, and organs receive better support. In sessions, clients often experience tears, laughter, sudden realizations, and/or deep peace as trapped emotions surface and dissipate. It’s a reminder that God designed our bodies with an incredible capacity to heal when we invite His breath back into those places.

A Holistic Foundation

My training at the Institute of Holistic Medicine exposed me to a spectrum of natural healing modalities, from Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic wisdom to European osteopathy. All of these systems emphasize that the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected and that breath is central to life. In Chinese medicine, practitioners talk about 'tonifying' chi; Ayurvedic texts describe prana moving through nadis; and the Bible tells us that God breathed life into man.

Dr. Nelson’s work aligns with this holistic view: emotions are energy, and when they become trapped, they can disrupt our physiology. Tony Robbins’ enthusiastic foreword reminds us that addressing emotional baggage is critical for personal growth. My experience confirms that releasing these energies through SOT and unwinding opens a path for the Holy Spirit to move. As we become able to surrender control and allow breath to flow again, we experience God’s grace not just intellectually but physically. It’s not about masking symptoms; it’s about listening to what the body is expressing and letting it guide us toward freedom.

Breathwork, Christian Retreat, Los Cabos: Why I’m Excited About the Grace That Sets Us Free Retreat

The Grace That Sets Us Free retreat in Los Cabos (July 16–19, 2026) is more than a vacation—it’s an immersion into healing. Set at the five‑star Zoëtry Casa del Mar, this intimate retreat welcomes about 40 women to experience elegant luxury, worship, deep teaching, and kinesthetic activities like breathwork. We will spend our afternoons in Scripture, worship, and messages led by Suzanne Eller, a bestselling author and co‑host of the More Than Small Talk podcast. Suzie’s gentle, powerful teaching style invites women to encounter God with honesty and courage. Her gift is articulating what the Holy Spirit is already whispering to your heart, validating your journey and urging you to step into freedom.

I’m also hoping that singer and songwriter Michele Perez will join us. Michele is a gifted worship leader whose voice and unwavering stand for God ignite an atmosphere of praise. When she sings, it’s as if heaven opens and each woman is invited to shine her own light more brightly. Stay tuned to see if she will be attending this July, 2026. Listen to Michele here

Pairing conscious breathwork at the Christian retreat in Los Cabos with worship magnifies the impact: as we breathe deeply, release tension, and fully surrender to open hearts, the Spirit ministers in profound ways. During the retreat, I will offer priceless perks of kinesthetic training to guide participants through gentle unwinding sessions and teach simple breath practices they can continue at home. We’ll explore metaphors that help us interpret the body’s signals and reframe the stories we carry. Most importantly, we will invite God to breathe fresh life into places that feel stuck. The combination of biblical teaching, worship, luxury rest, and hands‑on healing creates a container where miracles can happen.

Meet Your Guides

– Suzanne Eller: Bestselling author, international speaker, and co‑host of the More Than Small Talk podcast. Suzie inspires women to live free and brave. Her compassionate approach helps you identify God’s whispers and walk them out with grace.

– Brittany Poliska: Founder of Fun and Easy Health, trained in natural and holistic medicine. Brittany integrates Sacral Occipital Technique, craniosacral unwinding, and breathwork to align the body, release stuck emotions, and support organ function. Her passion is helping women rediscover God’s design for their bodies and stepping into their full potential.

Ready to Breathe Freely?

If you are a high‑achieving and this resonates with you, a God‑honoring woman yearning for deeper freedom, I invite you to join me, Suzie, and hopefully Michele in Los Cabos. Early registration ends soon and includes luxury accommodations, gourmet meals, non‑alcoholic wellness activities, transportation to and from the hotel from SJD airport, all teachings, and bodywork sessions. Only 40 spots are available, so visit the retreat page to secure your place. Breathwork, Christian Retreat, Los Cabos.

 Experience the Grace That Sets Us Free Retreat