• Introduction to Breathing
• The Role of ‘The Bohr Effect’ In Breathing
• We Are Designed as Nose Breathers
• What Does Functional or Optimal Breathing Look Like
• Causes of Over-Breathing
• Functional or Optimal Breathing Helps to Regulate the Autonomic Nervous System
• CapnoTrainer® Biofeedback Technology
• References

Introduction to Breathing

Breathing is the most central process of our functioning that we have direct conscious control over and the area where we can have the most influence regarding whole health.

Breathing is central to all life – we cannot live without it for more than a few minutes.

It is the one thing we do more than anything else – the average person breathes up to 30,000 times per day on average.

BUT did you know that:

• The quality of your breathing affects the quality of your life?
• And that most of us OVER-BREATHE – both in rate and depth? For example, diagnostic norms suggest that we should breathe 12-14,000 times per day rather than 30,000 times.
• Do you know what it means to breathe OPTIMALLY?
• The limiting factor in OPTIMAL RESPIRATION, and therefore OPTIMAL ENERGY FOR OUR CELLS, is not a lack of oxygen that we inhale? It is a lack of oxygen released into cells (due to low levels of carbon dioxide) caused by OVER-BREATHING OR DYSFUNCTIONAL BREATHING!!!!

So why do most of us take our breathing for granted?

Why do we accept less than optimal breathing function?

Perhaps, until now, we have not been aware of the link between dysfunctional breathing and symptoms of ill-health or disease. Some of these symptoms include:

Also, very few of us are aware that we could make significant changes to our health, stability, posture, attention, composure and sleep quality by learning how to breathe functionally. In addition to reversing the symptoms of ill-health or disease mentioned above, some more of these changes include:

Breathing Dynamics aims to restore optimal or functional breathing and therefore maximise delivery of oxygen to cells (for energy) by offering a variety of understandings and techniques that encourage:

1. Breathing through the nose at all times.
2. Using the diaphragm as the principal or primary muscle for breathing.
3. Regulating breathing rate and volume.

We offer breathing retraining courses for individuals and groups, which usually run for 8-10 hours (broken up into a few sessions) plus ongoing evaluation. These courses have a strong practical focus. To facilitate learning, we use CapnoTrainer® biofeedback technology, which gives an individual information on their own functioning from their own body’s perspective rather than just relying on coaching or feedback from a another person. By the end of the course we give clients the knowledge and understanding, both theoretically and practically, for them to be able to breathe functionally or optimally in many of life’s varying circumstances.

We also offer online modules (purchased via the online shop) on breathing retraining to optimize function and facilitate healing for a number of ailments and purposes. These include:

1. Asthma
2. High blood pressure/hypertension
3. Fatigue
4. Anxiety/depression
5. Snoring/sleep apnoea
6. Eczema/skin conditions
7. Stress management
8. Allergies
9. To facilitate dental corrections
10. Enhanced sporting performance
11. Enhanced work performance – artistic and business.
12. Ability to hold the breath underwater (specific to surfers etc)
13. Breathing for yogis.