Breathwork Therapy, The Whole Body Perspective

By Nancy Gardner


Throughout the Seventies and Eighties, doctors largely ignored the rise of interest in and experts on the holistic medical approach to disease. These days many people are seeking a balanced approach, and many lack the insurance necessary to see traditional doctors. With such changes in attitude, the medical field has been forced to take a closer look at techniques such as breathwork therapy.

For a patient and their physician to appreciate why and how many holistic methods can be effective, they must first acknowledge that there is a connection between the mind and the body. This can be difficult for a doctor trained only in pharmaceutical treatments to accept. However, how we feel about our lives, our illness, and ourselves can impact whether or not we get well.

Followers within the New Age movement firmly believe that there is a connection between our thoughts and our health. They take it to the extreme sometimes, claiming that any negative thoughts are destructive. Negative thoughts are part of our reality and must be acknowledged, but there is no doubt that one who tends to be depressed has less chance of recovery than one who stays upbeat.

Because a deep-breathing exercise routine promotes relaxation and calm, it is being utilized by psychologists now for patients seeking a non-pharmaceutical treatment for anxiety or panic attacks. It takes practice to control the rate of breathing one is using, and this can prevent the hyperventilation often seen by those who suffer anxiety disorders. For many, these exercises have helped them get through stress without making their emotions a public display.

Helping adults with Asperger Syndrome to get through anxious moments is one area that this treatment has shown great results. This is helpful both to the autistic adult, as well as anyone who helps care for or watch over them. Panic attacks afflict many people, but none so dramatic as one who falls within the autistic spectrum.

For anyone undergoing treatment for breathing-related ailments such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, controlling the breathing is very important to maintaining oxygenated blood. In order to maintain a healthy and functioning body, one must have the proper oxygen saturation, and this is tested every time such a patient sees their doctor. Deep breathing helps bring more oxygen into the blood, and this helps clear the mind and heal the body.

The average person will take in more shallow breaths that only fill the lungs. However, we all take in deeper breaths through yawning, which fill the diaphragm and brings oxygen to an area with blood vessels that are more shallow than in the lungs. Yawning is the natural way to maintain a proper O2 saturation, which tells us that the body is already programmed to do what these exercises promote.

For many facing serious illness, finding the right treatment means a balance between traditional medicine and a holistic approach. There are a few holistic MDs out there, but they are few and hard to find. When facing life-threatening illness, one must become their own case manager in order to find the treatments that will best work for them.




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