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ResRadio: Laughter and Resiliency: Craig Shoemaker

Airs Thursday, June 13th, 2013 at 6pm Pacific Time

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TV and RADIO interviews - More to come!

The Rockstar and the Warrior Interviews! Listen and watch as Rick Allen and John Roberts of WWP are interviewed on both TV and Radio.

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Resiliency LIVE CHAT with Lauren Monroe Allen

Tuesday, June 18th at 5pm Pacific, 8pm EasternTopic to come!

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2013 Community Drum Circle

Thank you to all who attended the Community Drum Circle!

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ABC New Story

Rick Allen and John Roberts on ABC's Bob WoodruffWatch the Rockstar and the Warrior!

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The Rockstar and the Warrior

The Rockstar and the Warrior In June of 2012, Rick Allen of Def Leppard and John Roberts of Wounded Warrior Project came together to share their stories and help others...

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Videos: How Can Raven Drum Circles Support...

Videos recorded at the Raven Drum Foundation Drum Circle held in Topanga, California on Sunday, the 15th of January, 2012.

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Breath Work for Relaxation PDF Print Email

BREATH WORK TECHNIQUES FOR RELAXATION

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The Sigh Breath - The “Instant Tranquillizer”

The Sigh Breath is a very simple breathing method for releasing tension in your chest, diaphragm and neck areas. It can be an excellent way of managing the symptoms of anxiety or panic.

It is a moderate (rather than very deep) inhale through the nose followed by a fairly prolonged and slow exhale through the nose or mouth - as a prelude to allowing your breathing to become slower and shallower.

How to use the Sigh Breath

1. Mentally think or say to yourself Stop!

2. Now breathe in through nose slowly and evenly. Pausing for just a second let the air out quite slowly through your nose.  Remember that the inhale is a moderate, rather than very deep, in-breath. The out-breath is the key to the method. Be sure to prolong it. L-e-n-g-t-h-e-n your exhale. (This helps retain carbon dioxide - your "natural tranquilizer".)

3. As you let the air out let go!  Relax your muscles - release as much tension as you can. Pay particular attention to the muscles in your Face & jaw, Shoulders, & Abdomen

4. Pay attention to the natural pause that occurs at the end of the exhale. No need to think about breathing in - this will happen naturally after a second or two. Simply enjoy this moment of stillness between breathing cycles.

5. As the in-breath begins direct your attention outside yourself to what is happening in the outside world – “See clearly” and “Hear clearly”. Silently pay attention to what you can see and hear. Without listing or naming them.

Although the method involves five steps the whole cycle of in-breath - brief pause – out-breath takes only a few seconds.

The Sigh Breath is a way of interrupting the buildup of physical stress and tension rather than a breathing technique to do over and over again. Initially one or two Sigh Breaths every half hour or so may be appropriate. Then aim to reduce the need to do it except for very tense periods.

Why use the Sigh Breath?

The Sigh Breath can become your “instant tranquillizer”.  It is a deceptively simple little technique which has many benefits.

Benefits:

  • It instantly reduce your tension level through temporarily raising your blood carbon dioxide level
  • The See Clearly - Hear Clearly part of the method directs your attention outside of yourself. This interrupts the common and un-useful tendency that most of us have, when we feel anxious or upset, to ruminate - to become very absorbed with our thoughts and feelings.
  • Engages your attention for a few moments. When you use it regularly you momentarily interrupt your internal stress-building loop in which your stressful thoughts result in stressful feelings which, in turn, exacerbate the stressful thoughts.of negative thoughts - negative feelings - negative thoughts. This takes you out of the loop and into practical action.
  • It helps draw your attention to the build-up of physical tension in your body - and especially in the throat, chest, and abdomen.
  • It gives you something to do when you feel anxious or panicky, rather than simply remain a passive victim of your moods.
  • It makes you aware of and interrupts the common (and quite un-useful) tendency, in anxiety states, to hold or restrict your breath.


Breathing Easy

Maintaining an easy breathing pattern, where your chest and diaphram are relaxed and moving naturally in harmony with each inhale and exhale helps re-develop and maintain a comfortable physical state with a clear and alert mind.

(In the beginning it is likely that accumulated tensions and poor breathing habits may have produced an uneven breathing pattern.  If this is the case you may find it helpful to first use the Sigh Breath method a few times to begin calming and stabilizing your breathing.)

How to use Easy Breathing

1. Pay attention to the natural, effortless movement of your breathing cycle. Feel the movements and sensations. (If necessary use two or three Sigh Breaths first.)

2. Pay attention to the inhale, then the slight pause, followed by the natural exhale, and then another slight pause.

3. Aim to have your breathing become shallower and slower. Do not force this otherwise it will have the opposite effect. The slowing down should occur gradually and gently.

3. Do this for three to ten minutes - paying attention to nothing else.

Through practice you may discover ways of utilizing Easy Breathing as a Quick Relaxer - a way of relaxing quickly for a few moments. As you experiment with the different breathing methods aim to discover which methods work best for you in different situations in your life.

When to use Easy Breathing

1. Whenever you wish to pace yourself and maintain a calmer and more centred internal state - at work, in sport, socially, etc.

2. When you wish to clear your thinking in order to give your full attention to an important matter.

3. As a Quick Relaxer - especially when it is inappropriate to relax with eyes closed, or to fully stop what you are doing.

4. To develop the habit of maintaining a clear mind and calm body.  Use Easy Breathing in odd spare moments: in lifts, in queues, in waiting rooms, at traffic lights, during the commercial breaks when watching TV, while listening to someone, waiting on the phone, or when you are being delayed. In this way you can turn what might otherwise been a frustrating or irritating event into a beneficial and centring experience.

5. To develop an on-going natural awareness of your physical state - so that any chest tightness or breathing unevenness alerts you to take action to clear your thinking and calm your body.

6. To train yourself to feel mentally and physically comfortable even when under pressure.

Benefits of Easy Breathing

  • Helps defuse the physical effects of the stress response
  • Provides an instant break and reduces frantic mental activity by centring your attention on a single issue rather than having it scattered
  • Gradually builds up your depleted store of carbon dioxide - your 'natural tranquiliser'
  • Enables you to take a mental and physical break without stopping what you are doing
  • Enables you  to maintain physical comfort while being mentally active.

-NLP  PROFFESSIONAL GUILD OF INTEGRITY-SKILLS-QUALITY