Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Breathwork
as a means for Health and Wellness.
A
study was done on centegenarians(those who live to be 100) from all
over the globe. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
factors surrounding these individuals remarkable longevity. The
observers investigated various data such as location, climate, food
sources, cultural and religious values, and the individuals
mental/emotional outlook. It was found that many of these
centegenarians shared commonality across several areas of factors
investigated. However it was observed that almost 100 percent of the
subjects of this study engaged in slow deep abdominal breathing.
Traditional
Asian Medicine has valued the role of deep breathing in maintaining
and promoting health since ancient times. Breathwork is considered
to be as valuable as methods such as acupuncture or herbal medicine
for healing. The combination of deep abdominal breathing with slow
movements is known as Qigong(“chee-kung”) in the Chinese culture.
The Chinese martial arts such as Tai Chi and Kung Fu all place
great emphasis on abdominal breathing. Chinese Opera singers are also
masters of abdominal breathing.
The western medical community is now recognizing breathwork as
beneficial to a wide array of bodily processes. Relaxed breath
control efficiently switches the central nervous system to the
parasympathetic mode, which is the exact opposite of the stressed
out “flight or fight” mode that we all too often find ourselves
in. Dr Andrew Weil, a Harvard trained M.D. states that “stress is
a leading cause in every disease process within the body.” The
body, when residing in a relaxed state increases blood circulation,
improves digestion and elimination as well as regulates the hearbeat.
Recently, The Harvard medical press reported that breathing
exercises can have a lowering or stabilizing effect on the blood
pressure.
On a mechanical level deep diaphragmatic breathing acts like a
'second heart' in the diaphragm region to circulate blood throughout
the internal organs as well as to the periphery of the body. This
improved circulation has the effect of cleansing of tissues as well
as stimulating the endocrine system. The cleansing and purifying
aspect of deep breathwork reaches down to the cellular level.
Germs, viruses and bacteria cannot survive in a high oxygen
environment within the body. When we practice deep breathing we can
activate and strengthen our immune system to fight off infection and
disease.
There
are two components to a breath: inspiration and expiration. The word
inspiration and its root inspire have the original meaning of: to
be with spirit or to be infused with spirit. There are many cultures
around the world that believe one can gain spiritual peace through
various methods of breathing. This applies to us in the field of
health in that Breathwork can be greatly beneficial in the treatment
of mental and emotional disorders. When we are in an anxious or
stressed state, on a physical level we breathe shallowly and
quickly. The mind and the body are like a feedback system whereby
they each influence the other. Conversely practicing deep relaxed
breathing is a physical practice that invariably brings about a
resultant relaxation in the quality of mind and emotions.
To
find out more about Breathwork or Qigong contact us here at The New
Eastern Health Center. Qi gong and Tai Chi classes are beginning
now, call to enroll.or visit www.neweasternhealth.com