The forces that develop the self—somatic, emotional, mental, interpersonal, social, and spiritual—must all be considered by therapists in treating any patient. Each article in this important anthology deals in some way with these various elements. The writing is focused on the body-mind connection, exploring the practices and theories of this popular branch of psychology. Topics include the significance of family systems; dealing with trauma and shock in therapy; and the importance of breathing, offering valuable insights for the student and practitioner alike. Contributors include Marianne Bentzen, a trainer in Somatic Developmental Psychology; Peter Bernhardt, a professor of psychology; and Peter A. Levine, author of Waking the Tiger.

Explores the Buddha’s own words on breathing meditation for healing, wholeness, and a deeper understanding of his teachings • Explains the complete series of steps in the Buddha’s Satipatthana Sutta for refining awareness of the breath, from posture and center of gravity to extending breath awareness beyond the nostrils, lungs, and abdomen to the entire body • Shows that stillness in meditation refers only to the mind, not to the body • Reveals breath to be a direct agent of healing for chronic tensions and an agitated mind Explaining how stillness in meditation refers not to a rigid and frozen body but to a quality of mind, Will Johnson examines the Buddha’s own words at the core of the Satipatthana Sutta: “As you breathe in, breathe in through the whole body; as you breathe out, breathe out through the whole body”--an instruction often overlooked in the majority of Buddhist schools. Exploring the Buddha’s complete series of steps for deepening awareness of the breath, he shows how to invite natural, responsive movement back into the posture of meditation by extending breath awareness beyond the nostrils, lungs, and abdomen to the entire body--a practice that unifies the breath, body, and mind into a single shared phenomenon. Showing how the flow of breath is directly affected by chronic tensions in the body and in the mind, Johnson explains that when breath starts flowing through more and more of the body, it becomes a direct agent of healing, massaging and melting any areas of tension it touches and moves through, whether physical or emotional. By breathing through the whole body in accordance with the Buddha’s instructions on breath, the body becomes much more comfortable, the mind starts resolving its addiction to thinking, and meditative practice deepens much more rapidly, allowing the teachings of the Buddha to be directly glimpsed and revealed.

This is the first guidebook for Westerners to explain the teachings of Swar Yoga--the conscious observation and control of breathing to maximize physical and psychic energy.

Breath is the flow of air between life and death. Breathing is an involuntary action that functions as the basis of all human activities, intellectual, artistic, emotional and physical. Breathing is the first autonomous individual action that brings life into being and the end of breathing is the definitive sign of disappearance. Starting from the question how breathing affects the body, levels of consciousness, perception and meaning, this book, for the first time, investigates through a variety of philosophical, critical and practical models, directly and indirectly related to breath, aiming to establish breath as a category in the production and reception of meaning within the context of theatre. It also explores the epistemological, psycho-physical and consciousness-related implications of breath. Aristotle dedicated a volume to breath exploring and enquiring in to its presocratic roots. For Heidegger, breath is “the temporal extension” of Being. Artaud’s theatricality is not representational but rather rooted in the actor’s breathing. Jacques Derrida and Luce Irigaray investigate the phenomenon of breath in order to explain the nature of human consciousness. Breath as a philosophical concept and as a system of practice is central to Indian thoughts, performance, medicine, martial arts and spirituality. As the book argues, individual consciousness is a temporal experience and breath is the material presence of time in the body. Cessation of breath, on the contrary, creates pause in this flow of the endless identification of signifiers. When breath stops time stops. When time stops there is a ‘gap’ in the chain of the presence of signifiers and this ‘gap’ is a different perceptual modality, which is neutral in Zero velocity. Restoration of Breath is a practical approach to this psychophysical experience of consciousness in which time exists only in eternity and void beyond memory and meaning.

This book will show you how being aware of your breathing can have a profound impact on your physical and emotional health in a most positive way. Whether you are interested in stress reduction, easing a chronic breathing problem, or exploring the more spiritual aspects of breathing practice, this illustrated guide will provide you with practical, simple exercises to calm, energize, and generally enhance your sense of well-being. The author, Dennis Lewis, also shows how becoming more conscious of your breathing can reveal a lot about your self-image and help you deal more effectively with difficult emotions and situations.

Transform Your Health and Well-Being With Your BreathWhat if one simple habit could radically improve your life? What if one small change could completely reshape your health, fitness, weight, sleep, energy -- and even your looks and sex life? Anders Olsson is the founder of Conscious Breathing. He has educated ove one thousand breathing instructors and helped tens of thousands of people create massive change in their lives through the power of their breath. In this book he draws on his vast experience, as well as countless hours studying all aspects of the human breath, as he reveals how to: Normalize your blood pressure, circulation and heart rate Get restful sleep and energize your working hours Boost your body's ability to burn fat Strengthen your immunity system Improve your health, looks and sex drive Unlock your turbo and cultivate calm and relaxation Expand your awareness and accelerate your personal and spiritual growth and development with every breath you take And much, much more Conscious Breathing - Discover The Power of Your Breath is the definitive step-by-step guide to reshaping your breathing habits -- and your life. Get it now to transform your health and well-being with nothing but your breath! Pick up your copy today by clicking the "BUY NOW" button at the top of this page!

Here is a practical and accessible introduction to the full, multifaceted richness of the yoga tradition. While most yoga books focus only on poses, Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind integrates the three fundamental elements of a complete yoga practice: asanas (poses), pranayama (breathing practices), and meditation. A. G. Mohan, an internationally respected teacher, also explains essential philosophical concepts and offers the yogic perspective on health and healing. With step-by-step instructions and abundant illustrations, Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind is the type of comprehensive guide that will be of interest to every yoga practitioner. The author explains that often when we feel stress or a sense that life has gotten out of control, it's not because of life events themselves, but because the state of our own mind has become chaotic and fragmented. When we are in a state of what he calls "personal integration," we are centered, contented, and able to see people and events in life as they truly are. In this state, people are most able to make decisions and take actions that are clear and positive. In Yoga for Body, Breath, and Mind Mohan provides a structured yoga program to help readers cultivate this state of balance and integration. The book also includes an introduction to the practice of yoga therapy.