Breathwork Books

An enjoyable meditation, helping me to reconcile my ambivalence towards certain people while appreciating both the differences and the similarities between them, myself and others that I admire. Helpful for changing attitudes...

This CD has really helped me to develop a more positive attitude towards life. I try and do this practice every morning, as it sets me up for the day in that I feel more connected with people and more sympathetic towards them. I am an experienced meditator and can really recommend this CD to both those who are new to meditation as well as those who are more experienced. Highly recommended!

I'd been practising the Metta Bhavana (Development of Kindness) in it's traditional form for about 25 years when I came across Vidyamala and Sona's adaptation of it. I think both ways of doing it are very good, but Vidyamala and Sona have adapted the practice specifically for people suffering from chronic pain and/or other chronic conditions, and I think it works very well. It helps you to empathise first with your own suffering, but then to expand outwards to use your pain as a point of empathy with all beings. Fantastic!

I would like to recommend the Breathworks Kindly Awareness meditation CD to anyone. I received it soon after being diagnosed with breast cancer and I found the CD very helpful, as it was hard at times to feel love and compassion for myself. I am sure this benefited my immune system, along with the other Breathworks Cds, which helped my recovery.

I particularly enjoyed the quality of Vidyamala's voice on the CDs - gentle, balanced and authoritative.

KINDLY AWARENESS
I have always loved this meditation for the feeling of love and intimacy to my friends strangers and the whole world that it gives but recently I had even greater reason to be thankful for it.

I was sent away from home for 6 weeks when my brother was born when I was 1year old. Then I was sexually abused by my father from when I was 5 to about 9. This is the first time I have written about these experiences but I am writing to show how much the Kindly Awareness and mindful moment practice can help even someone who has been deeply disturbed. These experiences have left me depressed and very scared of being alone. I have had lots of Counselling and lots of medication, some of it helpful and insightful(for a long time I didn't know why I was scared) some of it not.

Recently my eldest son went to live abroad for 2 years after living in Bristol and this induced the most terrible panic attacks in me. Then my younger son decided to leave home. I also got a terrible virus which relapsed my M.E. It was back on the merry-go-round of drugs and anti-depressants so that I just slept all day. Then when I managed to drag myself to a Retreat day and we were practicing the Kindly Awareness meditation (which I had been avoiding because I was scared to think about my feelings). Especially I have always been scared to have my father as the person I have difficulty with in case it brought on flash backs, overwhelming anger or fear. I cleared my mind to think how I was feeling emotionally, physically and mentally in THIS moment and it came to me that in this moment I am safe and in the next moment and the next moment. In other words when I cleared all the worries, fears, hang ups from the past out of my head for a moment I learned that I can be safe in each moment. Now every time I feel the fear coming back and I have accepted that it will come back instead of trying to avoid it (and avoiding issues takes such a lot of energy) I think to myself am I safe in this moment? If I am safe in this moment I can continue to be in each moment in spite of all that has happened. Of course there will be times in everyone's life occasionally that we are not safe, accidents and crimes do happen but they come from the real world and not in my fears and fantasies from the past which have dominated my life to now. Kindly Awareness and mindfulness is turning my life around.

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Wonderful- who could have thought the breath could be so interesting and sooo relaxing.

This is an excellent support for breathing/mindfulness meditation practice. The option of led and unled practice sessions is really helpful - and Vidyamala's calming voice is a great bonus!

I've been using this CD for about two years, along with the Body Scan and Kindly Awareness, also by Vidyamala and Sona. Practising this meditation with the CD has helped me to live in the present moment, and this in turn has helped me to enjoy life much more. The ancient Greek Philosopher Epicurus thought that the main reason we suffer was to do with thoughts about that past and the future, and that if we could just stay with our present moment experience we would be happy. I agree with him and heartily recommend this CD as a way of doing just that.

This CD has really helped me develop more awareness in my life. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a stressful job, as it can help you bring more spaciousness and calmness into the way you relate to the demands of the job. I know this from experience having worked as nurse, and now as a psychologist for a number of years. At the same time I can recommend this CD to both those who are new to meditation as well as those who are more experienced. Highly recommended!

I have a long standing back injury and have tried many many treatments from all sorts of disciplines. This mindfulness approach is the most effective thing I have ever done for my back pain. It is somehow ironic that switching from trying to treat or fix the pain to just living with it and managing it is what has worked, but there you are.... I really enjoy the slowing down that this CD brings for me. I got the benefits by using the CD over time so this is not a quick fix. But it does work.

The LifeBreath style of breathing is amazing. In addition to the breathing technique, tools for overcoming obstacles, releasing old anger and pain and living a healthier more balanced life are also included. I would highly recommend this book, a great read for anyone interested in improving their life and their health.

The life lessons in this book are a must for all. The act and art of breathing must not be taken for granted and with the practical applications revealed in The LifeBreath Book, everyone can breath big and thereby live big!

This is a book that you will enjoy to the very end. There are many helpful tools included, but the LifeBreath style of breathwork described is a phenomenal tool. Anyone who is looking for a refreshing look at conscious breathing needs this book to read and refer to many times over.

I see sunny days even when it rains, since attending Open Heart seminar by Lyse LeBeau and Duart Maclean and few months later I got their book.
At 19 I left home and joined the military to put a distance between myself and my family to try to forget the incest I lived. At one point I became depressed and started analyzing my life. I did not understand how this kind of situation could have happened to me. After reading the book, it was a like a light bulb that went off. This was a life changing moment because after I realized how the incest was created in my life, I was able to take responsibility for it and deal with it. Since dealing with this situation, my relationship with my whole family has changed. I was so inspired by my family's muscial talent I supported them to create a music CD. I had forgotten the love and support I had for my family.

After being in a depression and being fed up with my life I attended Lyse and Duart's seminar called Open Heart. That seminar transformed my life. The book came out a few months later and I read it right away. It's a book that as a lot of information that talked to me, that I keep reading again and again, always finding another answer and always bringing me closer to my truth. It's a must have. You want to treat your SELF, get this book right now...and give yourself the gift of life. You can also visit their web site to find out more about their activities : www.lyselebeau.com It's worth the extra clic.

Gunnel Minett presents an excellent, well-referenced discussion of an enormous range of information about breathing as a therapeutic intervention. Minett states that "Only three per cent of all waste products are eliminated through the faeces, seven per cent through urine and 20 per cent through the skin; the remaining 70 per cent is eliminated through exhalation." (p. 150) This is one of the few places where I would have liked to see more references.

This valuable book includes explanations of the many ways in which breathing can be therapeutic - way beyond the exchanges of gasses, the point at which western medicine generally ends its limited consideration of this topic.

Minett enriches her presentation with a survey of many ways in which breathwork has been developed in China, India and Tibet. Here, as in the rest of the book, simple exercises invite the reader to appreciate the benefits of breathwork experientially.

Minett's discussion extends into transpersonal benefits of breathwork, both in ancient and modern traditions. Readers who are not aware of the potent Rebirthing and Holotropic breathwork techniques will be fascinated to read about how people can retrieve and release traumatic factual and feeling memories from the time of their birth. These memories suggest a variety of ways in which we could bring greater healing to the birthing process as currently conducted in western hospitals.

Minett also suggests broader applications for breathwork, such as introducing this as a simple, easily learned and readily applied de-stressing technique in schools.

This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about breathwork.

The price tag of Exploring Holotropic Breathwork: Selected Articles From A Decade Of The Inner Door is weighty indeed - but so is the information packed within its covers. This guide gathers well over a hundred field reports related to a non-drug altered-state work. Over eighty authors trained in breathwork published these articles between 1991-2002, providing a foundation of important information to practitioners in fields ranging from medical to spiritual areas. From work with trauma survivors to work with lupis and HIV patients, this details a range of effects of breathwork and offers invaluable advice on how it can blend with traditional and alternative therapies. A unique, invaluable guide highly recommended for the new age health library.

This book is a godsend for those who are facilitating or planning to facilitate Holotropic Breathwork workshops. It takes the reader through the steps of planning and running the workshop, starting with advertising and promotion, interviewing potential participants, the introductory talk, the workshop itself, and follow-up. There is a wealth of information on the practical aspects of running the workshop, including facility requirements, music and sound system, feeding participants, and much more. Also there is a good discussion of the principals of Holotropic Breathwork.

Please note: this book is in no way intended to teach the practice of Holotropic Breathwork itself. That practice is learned over a period of several years of intensive training under the guidance of the Grof Transpersonal Training.

I first saw Kira demonstrate majority of the Thai Massage moves in Asokananda's advanced Thai Massage Book years ago (I use Asokananda's book extensively as reference!), and I am so happy to see her publish her own book. It is well laid out, excellently photographed, and described. She goes through a basic routine, describing the moves and she also has the actual charts for the sen lines and chakras as illustrated by Kam Thye Chow, who worked alongside Asokananda, and who has his own excellent Thai-Yoga book, which I also highly recommend!

Gave it to a family member with cancer. This person listened to it and the feedback I got from another family member was that it totally freaked the recipient out,upset him..in other words, that it was a disaster. I am obviously upset about this and will try to retrieve it at the right time to listen to it myself to see why the reaction was so bad. I really meant well!

I love this CD!!!
Its amazing to have at my fingertips a tool that I can use to prompt me to take "time out" from the day (and activities), in confidence that I will return to it with more awareness of and connection with my mind and body after doing the practice.
I sometimes use it as a "stop-gap" between doing one thing then the next, and can choose whether to do it for 20 or 40 minutes. Sometimes, I just feel tired and lie down thinking its for 20 minutes but once I'm there, realise that its one of the kindest things I could do for myself - and keep lying on after its finished playing! I don't remember giving myself the permission to do that prior to using the CD (probably cos it was very rare for me to go just lie on my bed!).
Now it's a real treat - one to which I can give myself fully, and after doing so, I'm more wholly present to the rest of my experience(/my life?!).
I don't have loads of money, but I can safely say that this has been my best value-for-money CD ever, based on the amount of times I've played it, the quality of my "listening experience", and its endurance factor - cos I'll still be using it years from now.
Hope this helps anyone unsure about trying this CD.

But don't just take my word for it - decide for yourself!!

This is an excellent cd that invites the listener to allow their attention to move from place to place in the body, and to gradually let go of tension without having to feel like 'letting go'.
The accents of the people doing the narrative are very soothing, UK rather than US accent, and easy to listen to.
it could only be improved with the addition of a backing tape to ensure background noises are somewhat disguised. (eg a binaural tape)

I have a long standing back injury and have tried many many treatments from all sorts of disciplines. This body-scan and mindfulness approach is the most effective thing I have ever done for my back pain. I got the benefits by using the CD over time so this is not a quick fix. But it does work.

I've had M.E. (chronic fatigue syndrome) for the last 3 years; this CD has transformed the way I manage both the physical and mental challenges of living with a chronic illness.

Listening to the CD enables me to have "constructive" space for myself during the day, and helps me to keep perspective. It is useful as a way of breaking up different activities - ensuring that I don't over do it, but meaning that as long as I stop before I am too tired, I get more done in the day! It is also extremely relaxing - perfect for a racing mind in an exhausted body!

Now that I am getting better, and have more energy, I still include the bodyscan in my daily routine, but often the 20 rather than the 40 minute version!

In the back of the book there is an order form
for the audio tapes. A 2 Tape Set is $10.95
plus $1 S/H, plus tax for CA residents 7.25%

Send check to: [payable to C.E.T. For Life]
C.E.T. For Life Exercise Therapy
PO Box 877
Cedar Ridge, CA 95924

I just sent for mine, I hope it comes!

I am trying to buy Nancy Swayzee Breathworks for your Back audio cassette.
But the price listed is $192.13. !!!!
For two audiocassettes?
I think the decimal place must be two places off.
Please tell me how to get these audio cassettes.

Straight forward information on getting your back in shape and keeping it there.

This year, I experienced an extremely painful bout of sciatica. Although the pain was quickly alleviated through a combination of acupuncture and deep tissue massage, I could sense that a "third leg" of my treatment was missing. My acupuncturist suggested Gyrotonic/Gyrokinesis. After taking a dozen Gyrotonic private lessons, I was amazed by the amount of body awareness that had been taught to me, and even more amazed that my body remembered it from lesson to lesson. This book sounded as if it would be able to clarify (at least partially) how this process happens. And indeed it has.

Please read Chapter 1 in entirety! It explains what happens in the body when the exercises described in the book are performed. After reading this chapter, I could accurately predict the breathing sequence in the fundamental Gyrotonic Arch-and-Curl exercise -- actually, I can predict the breathing sequence for any Gyrotonic exercise. Although I have not actually practiced the exercises laid out in the book, they make so much sense from a Gyrotonic perspective that there is no doubt that they will work as the author describes. Many of them (to my eyes, at least) bear a marked resemblance to Gyrotonic routines.

The author promises results in a few short weeks. She says that you will have better posture, more energy, and less stress. What she doesn't mention is that your newfound core strength will also make lifting things a lot easier. This is a terrific book, and a must read if you have back pain. If you're fortunate enough to live near a Gyrotonic studio and can afford a series of private lessons, the lessons of this book will be translated into an incredible freedom of movement. But Gyrotonic is definitely not necessary to the understanding of the book -- it merely makes lessons to be found in this book more accessible through a defined series of simple physical movements.

Disclaimer: I am not a Gyrotonic professional. I have no vested interest in either teaching or promoting Gyrotonic. I am a layman -- an unathletic engineer who has found Gyrotonic to be the fastest and easiest way to learn to move correctly. It also happens to be the Rosetta Stone for evaluating Breathworks.

This book will help you. I've suffered from chronic back pain for the past 6-7 years and I've seen a dramatic change in my levels of pain. BUY THIS BOOK! I was out on sick leave from my job as a teacher for four weeks. In desperation I turned to Amazon and looked for some type of help. I found Breathworks but I wasn't convinced that breathing exercises could help but I was desperate. I was still at home for the next two weeks and found by the end of this time I went from not being able to stand up to being able to return to work and finish out a full day. I complete about four to five exercises a night just before bed. The deep breathing relaxes me and helps fall asleep.

On a more vanity driven note, I have gone down one pants size and people are asking me how much weight I've lost.

For the first time in about five years I feel hopeful about what the future may bring and the possibility of being free of pain. I'm on my way to a better and more healthful life thanks to this book.