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Natural Breathing (formerly available only on cassettes under the title
Breathing as a Metaphor for Living)
"Suppose you wanted only one tape about breathing that
gave you everything, good explanations on how breathing
works with a variety of good graded exercises so that you
can develop your breathing, and all of that spoken to you in
a voice that is agreeable to listen to. Well, this is your
set of cassettes.
Lewis explains the fundamental relationship of how we
breathe to how we live. The relationship between our
breathing and our state of consciousness is fundamental. He
is straight forward: doing breathing exercises is not
enough: we have to educate our perceptions and develop a new
way of thinking. He gets rid of mythology: there is no one
'correct' way to breathe.
Breath language is a theme that has interested me over the
years. Lewis explains that anger results in shallow in and
out breaths, grief in spasmodic breathing, guilt in
restricted breathing; boredom in shallow, lifeless
breathing, and so forth.
The exercises are excellent. We are especially advised that
we cannot truly inhale unless we can fully exhale.
These cassettes are useful for anyone interested in
Breathwork. All breathwork and breathing work professionals,
whether they work in Rebirthing, Conscious Breathing
Techniques, Breathing Work (remedial breathing) or teach
meditation can suggest them to their clients to work with.
The first part of the exercises on Side Three are an
excellent way to introduce Vipassana breathing practices as
they are so helpful in teaching the necessary breath
awareness which is so difficult for so many people.
There are diagrams of how breathing functions." ... --Joy
Manné, PhD, May, 2002, The Healing Breath: A Journal of
Breathwork Practice, Psychology, and Spirituality
"Lewis offers several simple techniques designed to return
us to ‘natural breathing,’ and in the process ‘re-member’
our natural selves. He begins with a detailed account of the
mechanics of breathing; the physical, psychological, and
spiritual consequences of poor breathing; and the many
benefits of natural breathing, which is an ‘open door’ to
both material and spiritual realms. The two background
sessions are especially good. The body and breath exercises
in session three help cultivate self-awareness. Session four
includes five meditations. The awareness exercises are
pretty simple and probably most useful to beginners, while
the meditations will appeal to all levels of
students."--Yoga Journal (March/April 1999)
" ... an excellent introduction to a very important and
basic practice, presented in a gentle and thorough manner.
It doesn't matter whether you practice taiji, qigong,
meditation or none of the above. [These tapes] can help you
become more aware of your breath, more in control of your
breath, and show you how such a simple act can have far
reaching effects throughout your life."--The Empty Vessel
(Winter 1999)
"'Breath is life.' So the saying goes, and author Dennis
Lewis expands the listener's awareness of the powerful
health benefits of full breath. Breathing has not only a
physical dimension, but also a metaphysical and spiritual
one. Just as there is a personal aspect to breath, there is
a communal one, as we all share the same oxygen with
everyone who has ever lived. The first cassette of this
program examines the anatomy and physiology of breathing;
the second cassette contains extensive exercises and
meditations to improve the listener's breathing and expand
his/her awareness of the importance of full breath. This
informative, highly focused audio program looks not only at
the mechanics of breath, but at the potential for breath to
enhance quality of life."-- C.S. © AudioFile 2001, Portland,
Maine
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