Introduction
Breathing – we all do it. But it is so much more than the constant exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that keeps us alive. Physically every part of our bodies need oxygen to function correctly but the process of breathing is linked to our parasympathetic nervous system and ultimately our emotions. A restricted breathing pattern can have negative affects on our physical health and energy levels and can make us feel emotionally drained, and in reverse restricted breathing can be caused by emotional upset. We hold our breath to stop ourselves from feeling and if this becomes a habit we lose the ability to reconnect with our body and our emotion. Using breathwork meditation, or breathwork exercises, can help ground ourselves in our body. Using breathwork for anxiety for instance can help facilitate a lasting and profound change.
Conscious connected breathing allows us to reconnect physically and emotionally. A full diaphragmatic breath massages our internal organs aiding both our circulatory and lymphatic systems. Trained facilitators can help to identify where the breath is being held and by using simple positioning and pressure techniques can help the body to open up and the breath flow more freely. Not only can this improve health it can clear negativity in the subconscious mind leading to a lighter, happier and more peaceful emotional state.
With regular practice breath flows more freely at all times and it is common to experience better health, mental clarity, emotional freedom and mindfulness. Suitable for all ages breathwork becomes a life long self help tool.
artistic image of lungs and heart
Transformational Breath®
Transformational Breath® is a gentle, simple technique that helps people to open up the full potential of their breathing system for better physical and emotional well-being. It teaches a pattern of conscious breathing that is natural, safe and healthy and which can have many benefits, including increased energy, better immune response and increased ability to deal with stress in a healthy way.
The founder, Dr. Judith Kravitz, first experienced conscious breathwork in the mid-seventies through the breathing practice known as Rebirthing. This type of breathwork was designed to release various traumas sustained by individuals during birth.
She was then guided to combine conscious breathwork with her healing practice as a counselling minister and integrated various principles from metaphysics, Kundalini Yoga, breath analysis, breathwork meditation, breathwork exercises sound healing, body-mapping and other healing and spiritual principles. Over time enough changes were made in the form, consciousness, techniques and intention of her practice that she named the new process Transformational Breath®.
Transformational Breath® is taught as a powerful self help tool, by fully trained facilitators whose intention it is to give each person an understanding of how they can work with their own breath on an ongoing basis, to create personal transformation. It can be used to great effect either on its own, or in combination with other types of therapy/treatment.
Image courtesy of Judith Kravitz Transformational Breath Foundation
The Science Bit
The Transformational Breath Foundation UK has compiled the following list of available research. More information is available on their website www.transformationalbreath.co.uk
Approximately 1 in 10 people have symptoms of dysfunctional breathing (Thomas 2005) but we all have negative experiences and these can affect our breathing patterns (Upton 2012)
Dysfunctional breathing is related to :
- decreased emotional wellbeing (Hagman et al. 2008)
- poorer asthma control (Upton et al 2012)
- decreased heart rate variability (HRV) (Courtney et al, 2011) a measure of the ability to adapt to stress and environmental demands.
Transformational Breath encourages a conscious connected diaphragmatic breath. Diaphragmatic breathing may:
- be employed as an effective therapy in reducing the oxidative stress which is implicated in the cause of many diseases (Martarelli et al, 2011)
- improve gastroesophageal reflux disease (Eherer et al, 2012)
- decrease pre-surgical mood-disturbance and increased immune functioning of cancer patients after surgery (Cohen et al, 2011)
- improve the level of reported symptoms, quality of life and psychological impact of asthma (Bruton et al, 2011)
- significantly improve HRV with a favourable prognostic picture in ischemic heart disease patients who have diabetes (Kulur et al, 2009)
- be useful in migraine and had significantly better long-term prophylactic effect than propranolol in migraine (Kaushik et al, 2009)
Diaphragmatic breathing can also improve our well-being. It has been found to:
- contribute to the development of alpha EEG connected with relaxed mental states in meditation (Arambula et al, 2001)
- decrease stress levels (Christakis et al, 2012)
- relieve ‘tension-anxiety’ and fatigue in patients with gynaecological cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy (Hayama et al, 2012)
An adapted form of Transformational Breath has been found to increase creativity (Colzato LS et al, 2012)
This information is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat or cure any disease or condition. No claims are made as to specific health benefits. Individuals should consult a qualified health care provider for medical advice. The user assumes all responsibility and risk for the use of the information.