Description
Conscious Breathingdraws on more than twenty years of research and practice to present a simple yet comprehensive program that can be used every day to improve energy, mental clarity, and physical health. As the essential life-force of the body, the breath influences how we feel on every level. But many traditional breathing programs are limited by esoteric or cultlike elements. Pioneering therapist Gay Hendricks has refined the most important practices into a mainstream healing tool that can provide dramatic benefits--ranging from lowered blood pressure and pain reduction to elimination of depression and anxiety--in as little as ten minutes a day. At the core of the book are eight key breathing exercises, fully illustrated, with step-by-step instructions, plus the "short form" ten-minute breathing program. Additional chapters provide breathing techniques for special concerns, including: Breathing to aid in trauma release and recovery from addictions. Treatment of asthma and other respiratory problems. Enhancement of sex and communication between couples. Improved concentration and stamina in sports. From the Trade Paperback edition.… (more)
Library's review
Drawing on over twenty yaers of research into breathwork and body-centered therapy, Gay Hendricks offers a safe, fast, powerful program that can improve the quality of your entire life.
Conscious Breathing is based on spiritual traditions thousands of years old that have now been proven effective by modern medical science Inside you'll learn:
How to correct unhealthy breathing patterns in three easy foundation lessons.
How to increase stamina, concentration, and overall fitness through the ten-minute daily breathing program.
Advanced techniques for treating asthma, addictions, post-traumatic stress, chronic pain, depression, and other ailments.
Three speacialized breathing exercises for athletes.
How to use breathwork to enhance sexual preasure and communciation between couples.
'Gay Hendrick's work shows the role of the breath in opening ourselves to the present moment and thus to life itself. This book wil bring great benefits to those who use it. -Stephan Rechtschaffen, M.D., President, Omega Institute
'The Hendricks method of Conscious Breathing is a supreme example of gentle love and potent psychospiritual technique in action. This book is a living meditation, not to be simply read, but practiced daily.'-Jacquelyn Small, author of Awakening in Time
'Conscious Breathing brings awareness to this core activity, which, like life, is enhanced and enriched by the application of consciousness.'-Gary Zukav, author of Seat of the Soul
'Modern medicine is discovering ancient wisdom: the healing power of the breath. Gentle, sane, wise, and written by a genuine healer, this book is a gem.'-Larry Dossey, M.D., author of Healing Words
Contents
The breath test: Find out in a minute if you need conscious breathing
Preface: Beginning a breath-Taking journey to wholeness
One: The breath of life
1 Well-being: Of mind, body, and spirit: Eight reasons to practice conscious breathing
2 How I use conscious breathing every day
Two: The practiceof conscious breathing
3 Three foundation lessons in conscious breathing
Foundation lesson one: Exploring your breathing from the inside out
Foundation lesson two: Cultivating full diaphragmatic breathing
Foundation lesson three: Breathing for mind/body integration
4 Five advanced lessons in conscious breating
Advanced lesson one: Opening space in your body for deeper breathing
Advanced lesson two: Fine-tuning your whole-body breath
Advanced lesson three: Freeing the breath within the breath
Advanced lesson four: Breathing into a profound state of relaxation
Advanced lesson five: Generating a deep experience of streaming energy
5 The short form: The ten-minute daily breathing program
Three: Conscious breathing for special concerns
6 The trauma release: Healing wounds in the past and present
The informal, immediate stress-release technique
The formal trauma-release technique
7 Using breathwork in recovery from addictions
8 Consious breathing for asthma and other respiratory problems
Respiratory activity one: Breathing into your abdomen
Respiratory activity two: Taking a full out-brath
Respiratory activity three: Lengthening and deepening the out-breath
Respiratory activity four: Coordinating breathing with integrated body movement
9 Breathing together: Breathwork for couples
Couples' activity one: Tuning in to each other's breathing
Couples' activity two: Breathing with eye contact
Couples' activity three: Breathing to enhance sexual sensation
10 Enhancing sports performance
Atheletes' technique one: Increasing stamina
Athletes' technique two: Honing concentration
Atheletes' techniqe three: Quickly coming into the present
11 Frequently asked questions about breathing
Appendixes
A. Personal history: How I first became interested in conscious breathing
B. A bibliographical note
C. Note to professionals and advanced students of conscious breathing
Acknowledgments
About the autho