The Positive and Negative Impact of Breathing Patterns
There are over 2,000 organs and hormones that can be affected positively or negatively in a matter of minutes by shifting your breathing pattern.
Taking quick, shallow breaths usually signals to the brain that a threat exists, which stimulates a stress response, and therefore establishes destructive thinking patterns.
Conversely, taking slow, deep breaths usually signals to your brain that the coast is clear and all is well.
(Retraining the Brain, Dr. Frank Lawlis, 2008)
Taking quick, shallow breaths usually signals to the brain that a threat exists, which stimulates a stress response, and therefore establishes destructive thinking patterns.
Conversely, taking slow, deep breaths usually signals to your brain that the coast is clear and all is well.
(Retraining the Brain, Dr. Frank Lawlis, 2008)
The Positive ...
The numerous positive benefits of the Take A Breather Program can categorized into 3 key areas;-
Hence the acronym, SHH.
Hence the acronym, SHH.
- Improves concentration and ability to focus
- Allows a person to be in a receptive learning state;- makes learning easier
- Activates the neo cortex of the brain enabling access to creativity and problem-solving ability
- Improves academic performance and is a key to overcoming learning difficulties
- Reduces anxiety related to learning and performance
- Improves a person’s ability to make conscious choices;- to respond rather than react
- Promotes a ‘growth’ mind-set, rather than a ‘fixed’ mind-set
- Reduces stress and anxiety and has a positive impact on stress-related illnesses
- ·Supports the body’s ability to heal naturally
- Engages the Parasympathetic Nervous System; the rest and restore nervous system, which helps to digest the stress hormones. Stress hormones lead to cellular inflammation which is the root cause of all degenerative disease. (Christine Northup MD)
- In order to operate efficiently, our brain, nervous system, heart and circulatory system and all of the organs of the body need an abundant supply of oxygen. Every cell in your body is dependent on oxygen;- without oxygen cells begin to die. Restricted breathing can reduce the efficiency of the functions of the body. If a cell is receiving just enough oxygen to survive but not enough to thrive, it’s function declines markedly.
- Improves sports performance and also aids recovery time.
- Aids in the production of ‘feel good’ chemicals such as serotonin
- Allows positive emotions;-peace, love, joy, appreciation, compassion, gratitude to surface
- Allows a person to see things from a different perspective… seeing things from a different perspective changes the way you think, feel, and respond
- Helps to ‘bring out the best in us’ and improves self-esteem
- Promotes resilience and the ability to ‘bounce back’ faster from challenges
- Allows access to more positive, constructive, and empowering thought patterns
Breathing … A Natural Alternative!
It is rare for one initiative to be so inclusive and to have such a wide range of benefits, nevertheless. that is the potential the ‘Take A Breather®’ program has to offer
…many people are searching for non-pharmacological alternatives for a variety of medical and mental concerns.
Self-regulation and self-awareness are key life-long skills that can pay off in promoting and protecting long-term health.
By using self-management strategies to respond effectively to stress, create positive emotional states, and achieve optimal autonomic nervous system stability and function, individuals are laying the groundwork for enhanced lifelong health and wellness.
(Timothy P. Culbert, M.D. HeartMath Institute, 2010)
It is rare for one initiative to be so inclusive and to have such a wide range of benefits, nevertheless. that is the potential the ‘Take A Breather®’ program has to offer
…many people are searching for non-pharmacological alternatives for a variety of medical and mental concerns.
Self-regulation and self-awareness are key life-long skills that can pay off in promoting and protecting long-term health.
By using self-management strategies to respond effectively to stress, create positive emotional states, and achieve optimal autonomic nervous system stability and function, individuals are laying the groundwork for enhanced lifelong health and wellness.
(Timothy P. Culbert, M.D. HeartMath Institute, 2010)
... and The Negative
Just as there are numerous positive benefits associated with the slow, deep, relaxed breathing experienced with the Take A Breather breathing technique, there are numerous adverse effects associated with shallow. ‘Chest’ breathing: - the opposite of all the above…
Shallow ‘Chest Breathing’
Shallow breathing makes us vulnerable to negative emotional states; - anger, fear, jealousy, anxiety
“Chest breathing is associated with negative emotional states.” (Dr. Symeon Rodger)
Shallow breathing stimulates the ‘stress response’. Once this stress response, (often called the survival or fight or flight mechanism), is triggered, it causes brain activity to be directed away from the neo-cortex (where learning and creativity are possible).
Consequently it becomes difficult to concentrate, learn, be creative, relax, feel good about yourself or make empowering choices;- stress effects people physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.…
According to the American institute of Stress, up to 90% of all health problems are related to stress.
The effects of stress upon the individual can be divided into three broad categories:
• PSYCHOLOGICAL – e.g. anxiety, depression, distress, adjustment disorders;
• BEHAVIOURAL – e.g. irritability, poor dietary behaviours, sleep disorders, cessation of physical exercise; and
• PHYSIOLOGICAL – e.g. raised blood pressure, elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, possibly some forms of cancer, digestive disorders, tiredness, impaired immune competence, increase in obesity due to job strain
(Dollard 2001).
Stress in Children
In children the stress response can be caused by things like worrying about friendship issues, being afraid of making a mistake, being embarrassed, poor self esteem, conflict in the home, things that have happened in the playground…worrying or being fearful about any number of things… these things are a seen as a ‘threat’ to their personal safety, security and well-being. When we don’t feel safe our survival mechanism kicks in to protect us.
Once this stress response, (often called the survival or fight or flight mechanism), is triggered it becomes difficult to concentrate, learn, be creative, relax, feel good about yourself or make empowering choices.
The brain adapts based on its patterns of activation.
Whatever we activate regularly in the brain,
the brain will adapt to make it easier for these regions to continually activate.
(Grant Sinnamon- Neuroscientist- James Cook University)
If it is the stress response that is continually activated then the cycle of having difficulty concentrating, experiencing learning problems, poor self-esteem, lack of creativity, making poor-often reactive choices, experiencing anxiety, being defensive and so on, will become the most automatic response.
On the other hand, if it is a relaxed, integrated response that is activated, then the cycle of enhanced focus and concentration, being in a receptive learning state, feeling safe, confident and self-assured, making conscious choices, feeling peaceful and harmonious, being cooperative and so on, will become the most automatic response.
Consider for a moment the numerous benefits to be gained simply by changing your breathing pattern that have been previously mentioned in this document;- under the categories of
Shallow ‘Chest Breathing’
Shallow breathing makes us vulnerable to negative emotional states; - anger, fear, jealousy, anxiety
“Chest breathing is associated with negative emotional states.” (Dr. Symeon Rodger)
Shallow breathing stimulates the ‘stress response’. Once this stress response, (often called the survival or fight or flight mechanism), is triggered, it causes brain activity to be directed away from the neo-cortex (where learning and creativity are possible).
Consequently it becomes difficult to concentrate, learn, be creative, relax, feel good about yourself or make empowering choices;- stress effects people physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.…
According to the American institute of Stress, up to 90% of all health problems are related to stress.
The effects of stress upon the individual can be divided into three broad categories:
• PSYCHOLOGICAL – e.g. anxiety, depression, distress, adjustment disorders;
• BEHAVIOURAL – e.g. irritability, poor dietary behaviours, sleep disorders, cessation of physical exercise; and
• PHYSIOLOGICAL – e.g. raised blood pressure, elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, possibly some forms of cancer, digestive disorders, tiredness, impaired immune competence, increase in obesity due to job strain
(Dollard 2001).
Stress in Children
In children the stress response can be caused by things like worrying about friendship issues, being afraid of making a mistake, being embarrassed, poor self esteem, conflict in the home, things that have happened in the playground…worrying or being fearful about any number of things… these things are a seen as a ‘threat’ to their personal safety, security and well-being. When we don’t feel safe our survival mechanism kicks in to protect us.
Once this stress response, (often called the survival or fight or flight mechanism), is triggered it becomes difficult to concentrate, learn, be creative, relax, feel good about yourself or make empowering choices.
The brain adapts based on its patterns of activation.
Whatever we activate regularly in the brain,
the brain will adapt to make it easier for these regions to continually activate.
(Grant Sinnamon- Neuroscientist- James Cook University)
If it is the stress response that is continually activated then the cycle of having difficulty concentrating, experiencing learning problems, poor self-esteem, lack of creativity, making poor-often reactive choices, experiencing anxiety, being defensive and so on, will become the most automatic response.
On the other hand, if it is a relaxed, integrated response that is activated, then the cycle of enhanced focus and concentration, being in a receptive learning state, feeling safe, confident and self-assured, making conscious choices, feeling peaceful and harmonious, being cooperative and so on, will become the most automatic response.
Consider for a moment the numerous benefits to be gained simply by changing your breathing pattern that have been previously mentioned in this document;- under the categories of
and the responses of both children and adults…under the link
Responses and Testimonials
…A Magic Pill
If there was a pill we could take that had all these benefits, without any adverse side-effects, people would be lining up to buy it. Yet all that is needed to gain all of these benefits is education and implementation.
The profound simplicity of Take A Breather and the immediate benefits are very obvious once experienced.
...The Gift of a Life-time
Take A Breather then becomes a life-long tool, making a positive difference;- making you…
Responses and Testimonials
…A Magic Pill
If there was a pill we could take that had all these benefits, without any adverse side-effects, people would be lining up to buy it. Yet all that is needed to gain all of these benefits is education and implementation.
The profound simplicity of Take A Breather and the immediate benefits are very obvious once experienced.
...The Gift of a Life-time
Take A Breather then becomes a life-long tool, making a positive difference;- making you…
whenever you choose to use it!