Respiratory gymnastics in psychotherapy practice

News 03/13/2020

What is the effectiveness of using the methods of respiratory gymnastics for health promotion and in psychotherapy practice?

Our breathing is the only vegetative function that a person can quite easily exert an arbitrary influence on, thus controlling the mode of functioning of various physiological systems. Therefore, breathing training is considered one of the most effective ways to control and regulate the state.

It is important to remember that, depending on the type of exercise used, their effects can be prolonged and have both a calming and activating character.

Breathing with a longer inhale leads to activation (arousal) of the body, and breathing with a longer exhalation, on the contrary, causes a calming effect.

The most famous practices of respiratory gymnastics include: Buteyko breathing, Strelnikova breathing exercises, Mueller breathing exercises, pranayama from hatha yoga, breathing complexes from qigong, do ying, Tibetan yoga; transpersonal breathing: rebirthing, holotropic breathwork, and many other techniques.

But before you start using one of the breathing techniques, you need to understand the understanding of the correctness of the approach.

What can lead to improper breathing?

Rapid shallow breathing contributes to the development of hypertension, asthma, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and other diseases. In an effort to make up for the excess loss of carbon dioxide, the body turns on the protective system. As a result, there is an overexertion, which leads to an increase in mucus secretion, an increase in cholesterol levels, narrowing of blood vessels, spasms of the vessels of the bronchi and smooth muscles of all organs.

What is useful for breathing exercises?

This is the prevention of bronchial diseases (bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis), massage of internal organs, improvement of intestinal peristalsis and strengthening of abdominal muscles, a surge of energy, cheerfulness and excellent health, reducing fatigue, fighting stress and insomnia, concentration and increasing intellectual activity, young elastic skin and even dropping extra pounds.

Breathing exercises promote relaxation, help to get rid of anxiety and restless thoughts. In combination with a positive attitude, breathing exercises help to develop a calm and positive outlook on life in general.

Respiratory gymnastics can open the internal reserves of the human body, activate the work of internal organs and systems, increasing metabolism.

Exercises of respiratory gymnastics purify the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, strengthen the respiratory muscles.

In psychotherapy, along with other methods, breathing exercises are used when:

• neurosis;
• panic attacks;
• depressive states;
• disorders of the nervous system;
• chronic fatigue syndrome;
• sexual disorders, etc.

But there are also contraindications:

• age up to 6 years;
• elevated temperature;
• acute diseases and exacerbations of chronic diseases;
• I trimester of pregnancy;
• during the exacerbation of mental illness.

In addition to all of the above, it should be noted the use of breathing techniques to study altered states of consciousness, especially in recent decades, which has forced a revision of existing views on human nature.

At the Loginov Moscow Research Center, we use qigong breathing exercises three times a week to prevent burnout among employees, and we recognize that this is very effective.

We can say on the example of our own practical use that breathing practices are very effective, but we must not forget about caution when using them independently.

And it is very important to understand that no breathing exercises will replace the necessary treatment in the presence of an acute disease or exacerbation of a chronic one.

When deciding to adopt them, consult with specialists and use them for your health!

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