Integrative Breathing Therapy

Research suggests that how we breathe influences the function of a number of body systems. This does not mean that breathing training is the answer to all health problems, but it does suggest that it has a role to play in improving our health.

The following list is a summary of some of the potential impacts of breathing.

1. Breathing can influence the function of the autonomic nervous system and the vagus nerve.
2. Breathing exercises can calm the stress response and improve stress resilience.
3. Breathing exercises can influence the immune system and the inflammatory response.
4. Breathing affects the efficiency of circulation of blood and lymph
5. Breathing helps normalise homeostatic reflexes such as the baroreflex (that regulates blood pressure).
6. Breathing can be used to train the mind, focus and attention.
7. Breathing affects the function of the digestive system.
8. Breathing exercises can improve airway and lung function.

• dysfunctional breathing
• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• sleep disordered breathing (sleep apnea)
• paradoxical vocal fold dysfunction
• mouth breathing
• abnormal orofacial myofunctional habits
• hypertension
• sinus congestion
• anxiety and panic disorder
• gastro-intestinal reflux disorder
• recurring neck, back, shoulder and pelvic pain
• craniofacial pain and TMD
• poor posture

The breathing basics protocol is a breathing, posture and movement routine.  It helps to correct the function of the diaphragm and trains you to co-ordinates the function of breathing muscles so that you breathe more efficiently during the activities of daily living and in times of stress or challenge.

This breathing technique adjusts rate, depth and rhythm of breathing to create an ideal interaction (resonance) between the respiratory, cardiovascular and autonomic nervous systems. It is a particularly good breathing technique for improving vagus nerve function.  Resonance frequency breathing involves relaxed diaphragmatic breathing at around 3-7 breaths per minute.

Research has shown that regular practice of resonance frequency breathing helps people with a range of conditions including asthma, COPD, hypertension, heart disease, fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety.

Mindful breath and movement techniques used in IBT are an important part of the program, particularly for individuals with stress related breathing dysfunction and lots of breathing symptoms.  For these people focusing on their breathing can be unpleasant and attempts to directly control and modify breathing can lead to increased tension and distress.

The IBT mindful breath and movement techniques teach people to relax tense breathing muscles, to appreciate pleasant body sensations and to become more tolerant and less fearful of breathing discomfort and other symptoms. This can help to reduce symptoms and improve conscious and unconscious breathing control.

Read more on Mindfulness Research Guide, a compilation of research on mindfulness:

http://www.mindfulexperience.org/

The Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) was originally developed by Dr. KP Buteyko as part of an overall approach to reducing hyperventilation tendencies and mouth breathing in people with respiratory illness. At least 6 published randomised controlled clinical trials have shown BBT to be helpful for asthma. It is also used to help people with sleep apnea and mouth breathing.