Category Archives: Health and Healing

Light at the end of the tunnel

There is light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes the tunnel seems deep, dark, and long even if being in that space only lasts a day. In that tunnel the mind can be very bothersome as it conjures up so many stories and scenarios as we face ourselves and the situations in our lives that need attention.

I’ve found how important it is to recognize the ego part of my mind and the part of my mind that is my friend and is trying to give me information as to how to move forward into more clarity, realization and understanding. Not sure I could experience the depth and breakthrough that comes after diving into these places without meditation. To give myself time to rest in the silence.

I meditate in a number of ways, all are so helpful. I love the silence of meditation and I love breathwork! Each take me beyond the mind and help so much as life unfolds.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like it, but we always do come through to the other side with more understanding, awareness, clarity, heart opening love.

Remember to take time each day to focus on your breath. breathe in, breathe out, breathe in breathe out. Focusing on your breath even for 1 minutes brings one back to the present moment, melts away what is bothering oneself and clears the space to be open, relaxed, and less burdened by the mind.

Savanna

The Power of Breathwork – A Personal Account

“I began breathwork in November of 2009. I was intuitively drawn to it without really
knowing what it was or what it could do for me, so I had no expectations. I just knew I
needed help and trusted this might be something that could work.

Badly broken on all levels – mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually after a
traumatic death in my family I came to breathwork with the intention to find peace and
healing. I have and so much more.

Breathwork gave me back my body. It had been held captive for about two years in
grief, anxiety and anger. I think Iʼd been holding my breath all that time, afraid to breath, afraid to feel, afraid to be in my body. Breathwork began the process of healing me. Each session took me to a deeper level of myself. I never knew beforehand where I would go or what I would find and afterward I was always surprised and grateful. It unwound me, layer by layer, session by session.” – Deb K.

 

Each Full Breath We Take

I am continually in awe of the benefits and impact conscious breathing and breathwork offers to humanity.  Hope you enjoy this article from Jim Morningstar’s “The Complete Breath” by  Jessica Dibb, Co-director of the International Breathwork Training Alliance and the Chair of the IBTA Ethics Committee.

Each full breath we take has a beneficial impact. If we take that full breath consciously, with awareness, the benefits are exponentially increased. We can develop a practice of breathing this way. We can even cultivate skill in the way we allow our breath to be modulated by our experiences, and the ways that we encourage a full deep breath in every moment – in the presence of all of the vicissitudes of a human life. We can come to understand and experience that within each breath we breathe dwells the possibility for greater health, healing and wellness, personal growth and development, creativity, developing intelligence and wisdom, accessing intuition, and evolving and building a healthy world together.

When we are in the womb we feel, we sense, and we grow. What makes it possible for us to feel, sense and grow outside of the womb is breath. It is the most critical physiological function for life. Breath is one of the most transformative forces for life and one of the most powerful medicines on the planet.

Right now you and I are sharing the same experience – that our life began with a single breath, that our life is maintained by a series of breaths, and that the last thing that we do in this life is to take a breath. Right now you and I are sharing the air that we breathe. This air has been breathed over time by trillions and trillions of creatures, human and non-human, including all the people that humanity most admires for having helped make the world a better place.

And right now you and I have the same experience that without any conscious effort on our part we are breathing. And that breath is supporting the efficacy and vigor with which every cell in our body functions, and it is animating every moment of our life. Simultaneously this most critical, essential, and powerful physiological function can be affected in its rate, depth and more by our conscious volition. The implications of the meeting of the unconscious and conscious aspects of breathing, the effortless and efforting dimensions of breathing, for regulating a healthy and harmonious relationship between the sympathetic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system, and for creating opening and flow between the conscious and unconscious mind are thrilling and promising.

At the beginning of the 21st century there is expanding recognition that the source of much illness and disease is lack of oxygenation. How fortunate we are that there is wisdom from ancient times to today that can teach and guide us in consciously harnessing the full benefits of our breath. It is our most potent nutrient, and our most potentiated vehicle for awareness and self-actualization – and it is free and available every moment. From the simplest of breathing techniques that encourage relaxation and stress-reduction, to progressively enhanced techniques that promote cortisone regulation, stimulate immune functioning and hormonal regulation, to neural regulation and integration, and finally to intensive breathing techniques that help humans to penetrate the deepest parts of themselves, access their greatest gifts and fully flower as a being – breath is a surprising, delightful and awesome blessing.

Envision a world in which every baby is so loved and supported that there is little or no restriction or constriction, or holding of the breath due to anxiety, fear or unnecessary suffering. Envision that these relaxed, breathing childrenʼs bodies are then taught early in life about the significance, power and potential of deep and healthy breathing. Imagine a world in which these children are taught to breathe optimally and even expand their knowledge and capacity to breathe. Imagine a world in which all adults are supported and guided in retraining their bodies to breathe fully. Could we, as a species, as individuals, be healthy? Could we then meet each other with more relaxation, confidence, and awareness of the other? Could we then work together to keep our air, earth and water clean and vibrant? Could we then recognize our common humanity- and need to love and be loved? Could we build a healthy world that we can collectively relish together?

 

Benefits of conscious breathing

“Each full breath we take has a beneficial impact. If we take that full breath consciously, with awareness, the benefits are exponentially increased. We can develop a practice of breathing this way. We can even cultivate skill in the way we allow our breath to be modulated by our experiences, and the ways that we encourage a full deep breath in every moment – in the presence of all of the vicissitudes of a human life. We can come to understand and expereince that within each breath we breathe dwells the possibility for greater health, healing, and wellness, personal grwoth and development, creativity, developing intelligence and wisdom, accessing intuition, and evolving and building a healthy world together.” – Jessica Dibb, “The Complete Breath”

To experience Breakthwork Breathwork Meditation with Kris and Savanna Cassidy visit our website www.breakthroughbreathwork.com

Breakthrough Breathwork Testimonials

Take a look at two new testimonials from our clients about their experience of 10-sessions of Breakthrough Breathwork Meditation.

From Anna Florey, Denver

I just completed  10 individual Breathwork sessions with Kris and Savanna, and I also participate in the monthly public workshops.  What can I say to do justice to the profound effects this practice has already had on my life?

Breathwork has literally changed the course of my spiritual path. I’ve been on a serious spiritual path for many years, learning many meditation practices and ways of going inside myself. All have been beneficial, and Breathwork is the penultimate in being able to consistently transform me — both in an immediate sense (changes a bad mood in a matter of minutes) to deep spiritual and emotional healing and clearing. I highly recommend Breathwork for anyone looking to bump their  spiritual practice up several levels or to anyone looking for any kind of change in life.

From Anneke Van Couvering, San Francisco

I moved and let go of so much, at a depth and at a speed that I hadn’t approached before. I have been on a path to transformation most of my life, have participated in many processes, but this breathwork is unlike any other practice I’ve experienced.

What I like the most is that the focus remains on the breath. I don’t need to think, in fact what happens is beyond the mind. I don’t need to endeavor in the way many practices require. There is no drama. It feels fairly effortless. The depth of what happens is profound. It is easy. It is magical. It is free medicine. It is deep healing. My body moves into deeper and deeper states of healing peace and relaxation. My mind becomes calm.

All just because of breathing. Breath is spirit. Spirit is love and healing. It is exquisitely profound and simple.

Please consider exploring Breakthrough Breathwork with Kris and Savanna. Priceless treasure awaits you.


Healing Potential of Your Breath

I continue to relish the articles in Jim Morningstar’s “The Complete Breath”.   Enjoy this excerpt from Jessica Dibb regarding the healing potential of our breath.

“At the beginning of the 21st century there is expanding recognition that the source of much illness and disease is lack of oxygenation. How fortunate we are that there is wisdom from ancient times to today that can teach and guide us in consciously harnessing the full benefits of our breath. It is our most potent nutrient, and our most potentiated vehicle for awareness and self-actualization – and it is free and available every moment. From the simplest of breathing techniques that encourage relaxation and stress-reduction, to progressively enhanced techniques that promote cortisone regulation, stimulate immune functioning and hormonal regulation, to neural regulation and integration, and finally to intensive breathing techniques that help humans to penetrate the deepest parts of themselves, access their greatest gifts and fully flower as a being – breath is a surprising, delightful and awesome blessing.

Envision a world in which every baby is so loved and supported that there is little or no restriction or constriction, or holding of the breath due to anxiety, fear or unnecessary suffering. Envision that these relaxed, breathing childrenʼs bodies are then taught early in life about the significance, power and potential of deep and healthy breathing. Imagine a world in which these children are taught to breathe optimally and even expand their knowledge and capacity to breathe. Imagine a world in which all adults are supported and guided in retraining their bodies to breathe fully. Could we, as a species, as individuals, be healthy? Could we then meet each other with more relaxation, confidence, and awareness of the other? Could we then work together to keep our air, earth and water clean and vibrant? Could we then recognize our common humanity- and need to love and be loved? Could we build a healthy world that we can collectively relish together?”

 

I can barely get past the first few pages of “The Complete Breath:  A Professional Guide to Health an Wellbeing.” There is such rich and inspiring information being given to humanity through the writings of these leading authorities on breathwork.   Once again I quote Jim Morningstar, from the introduction of this book.

“At the beginning of the 21st century there is expanding recognition that the source of much illness and disease is lack of oxygenation. How fortunate we are that there is wisdom from ancient times to today that can teach and guide us in consciously harnessing the full benefits of our breath. It is our most potent nutrient, and our most potentiated vehicle for awareness and self-actualization – and it is free and available every moment. From the simplest of breathing techniques that encourage relaxation and stress-reduction, to progressively enhanced techniques that promote cortisone regulation, stimulate immune functioning and hormonal regulation, to neural regulation and integration, and finally to intensive breathing techniques that help humans to penetrate the deepest parts of themselves, access their greatest gifts and fully flower as a being – breath is a surprising, delightful and awesome blessing.

Envision a world in which every baby is so loved and supported that there is little or no restriction or constriction, or holding of the breath due to anxiety, fear or unnecessary suffering. Envision that these relaxed, breathing childrenʼs bodies are then taught early in life about the significance, power and potential of deep and healthy breathing. Imagine a world in which these children are taught to breathe optimally and even expand their knowledge and capacity to breathe. Imagine a world in which all adults are supported and guided in retraining their bodies to breathe fully. Could we, as a species, as individuals, be healthy? Could we then meet each other with more relaxation, confidence, and awareness of the other? Could we then work together to keep our air, earth and water clean and vibrant? Could we then recognize our common humanity- and need to love and be loved? Could we build a healthy world that we can collectively relish together?”

Emotional Well-Being

The International Breathwork Summit was spectacular.   Leading authorities speaking on the many benefits of breathwork in all areas of our lives.  Read a passage from Jim Morningstar, one of the leading authorities on breathwork and co-director of the International Breathwork Training Alliance.

Emotional Wellbeing  

Breathwork has brought to the awareness of the healing community the direct link between the ability to regulate oneʼs breathing with the experience of emotional balance. Emotional balance is that middle path between repression on the one side and lack of containment on the other. Deep or repressed feelings that have been inaccessible to cognitive therapeutic intervention have been readily accessed in breathwork practice. This is because the techniques alter the breathing rhythm to activate the sympathetic nervous system in a controlled way. While the body is beginning to engage in flight/fight/freeze activation and the attendant emotional responses, the breather is staying conscious of his or her breath control. The breather learns to ride the wave of feelings rather than suppress or lose control. The full range of emotions – mad, sad, glad, scared and all their variations – can be experienced as a source of positive vitality and wisdom (emotional intelligence). All of the bad examples we have of repression or loss of control in the culture tend to give emotions a bad reputation. However the truth is that a life devoid of feeling is a passionless existence. Our breath can help us be safe with our feelings.

Quotes from the awesome global Breathwork Telesummit

The highly inspirational (and, yes, I choose that work deliberately!) Breathwork Summit came to a close today. It was a big coming out for Breathwork worldwide with most of the top authorities presenting.  A fascinating exploration of Breathwork from a myriad of perspectives.

You can still listen to free recordings of the speakers for a few more days at breathworksummit.com

Here are some quotes from the Summit:

“Breathing is one of the fastest ways of shifting your consciousness that I have ever found.” Gay Hendricks

‘Conscious breath becomes a refuge and a vehicle for living from a place of power, integration and wisdom.’
‘Attention to breath brings kind attention, loving awareness and reality of the present moment.’
Jack Kornfield.

‘When you take a full conscious breath you light up all 3 areas of the brain…you can experience the present moment without defensiveness.’
‘Breath is our greatest nutrient and our greatest medicine.’ Jessica Dibbs

‘Breath is an essential part of transformative practice that leads to health’. ‘
‘Conscious Breath improves heart rate variability which aids in reducing stress and trauma’
‘Bringing awareness to the breath brings amazing transformative possibility. With awareness you can intentionally modulate it or let it be. You play with the boundaries of being active or letting go. It trains the mind to let something be or take an active role.’
Dan Siegel