Poor posture, stress, muscular tension... all can make the `effortless' act of breathing very hard work without us realizing. And breathing isn't just a physical activity; it influences our mental, emotional and spiritual well-being, too.How To Breathe shows you how to relearn your natural rhythm of breathing to beneficially alter the way you think, feel and act. Packed with practical breathing techniques to use at home, and featuring groundbreaking methods developed by the founder of the Alexander Technique, this book will help you rediscover how to breathe naturally to improve very aspect of your life. By applying consciousness to the action of breathing, you can become aware of harmful habits - and alleviate common breathing problems I the process.We breathe more than 20,000 a day - so why not make sure you do it as efficiently and effectively as possible?Simply put, this is a book you can't afford to be without.
Richard Brennan has studied the Alexander Technique since 1983 and has been teaching the technique full time since 1989 he travels throughout Europe giving talks and courses on the Technique. He has taught the Technique at many educational centres including Galway University, Limerick University, Dartington College of Arts, Middlesex University and in the Music Department of DIT, Dublin
INTRODUCTION 6CHAPTER ONE The importance of Breathing 9CHAPTER TWOHow Breathing Works 19CHAPTER THREE The Breathing Man 37CHAPTER FOURHabits and Misconceptions 47CHAPTER FIVEBreathing Problems 65CHAPTER SIXUnderstanding the Principles of Natural Breathing 79CHAPTER SEVENFirst Steps to Improve Breathing 89 CHAPTER EIGHT The Voice and Breathing 103CHAPTER NINE Breathing in Action 117CHAPTER TENImproving Posture, Health and Happiness 129Resources 140Index 142Acknowledgements 144
Richard Brennan, Charles P. Ries, Larry Hanauer, Ben Connable, Terrence K. Kelly, Michael J. McNerney, Stephanie Young, Jason H. Campbell, K. Scott McMahon