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 Perfect Breath E-Zine
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Welcome to Perfect Breathing!
September 2007
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"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that
this very moment is the only one
you know you
have
for sure."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
WE TALK OFTEN OF HOW THE BREATH allows you
to be absolultey in the moment. It takes the pressure
off when there's no regretting yesterday or
fretting about tomorrow. No less so for children. This
time of year, kids start to feel the pressure of school,
its expectations, its pitfalls, its rewards. Schedules get
hectic, there are test and homework demands, and
social circles that spin their own impositions. This
month we
take a look at how a little breath awareness can help
kids not only cope, but thrive.
Discover the latest breath and breathing
information at our Perfect
Breath website and our new
Perfect Breath Blog site.
Looking for customized training or arranging for a
keynote
speaking? If you're planning a conference, a retreat,
a corporate offsite, or health and wellness fair, we
can help. Please visit Perfect
Breathing to help you get started.
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Breathing is a Kid's Secret Weapon
As adults we are well aware of the stress in our lives.
It comes at us from all directions - work, relationships,
finances, health, politics, and world events to name a
few. Although we don't often recognize it, children can
be just as stressed out as their parents and the other
adults in their lives. Childhood stress can be even
more damaging to health and wellbeing and have
deleterious effects for decades to come. By teaching
children simple breathing techniques you can give
them tools that will make them healthier as adults,
improve academic and athletic performance, and help
them become more emotionally stable and resilient.
Although we like to think of childhood as a carefree
time, children are often exposed to plenty of stress.
According to Dr. Sabine Hack, an Assistant Professor
of Clinical Psychiatry at the New York University
School of Medicine, "Children feel stress long before
they grow up. Many children have to cope with family
conflict, divorce, constant changes in schools,
neighborhoods and child care arrangements, peer
pressure, and sometimes, even violence in their
homes or communities."
Read the full article about kids and breathing here...
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Two Breathing Techniques Every Child (and Adult) Should Know
Two techniques that every child (and adult) should
know are the Six Second Breath and
Anxiety Breathing.
Six Second Breath:
Normally we breathe 15 to 20 times per minute -
faster or slower as dictated by stress and emotions
such as anger, grief and frustration. However recent
research has shown that a rate of 10 breaths per
minute is most beneficial to our health. Teach your
child this simple exercise as follows:
- Inhale for 3 seconds through the nose (one-one
thousand, two-two thousand, three-three thousand)
- Exhale for 3 seconds through the mouth (one-one
thousand, two-two thousand, three-three thousand)
It is simple enough to teach to even young children,
and can be used to draw their attention away from
pain, anger, fear, stress, and sadness while
simultaneously counteracting the physiological effects
of intense emotions.
Anxiety Breathing:
This technique is invaluable for instances where the
child is having trouble catching his or her breath or is
hyperventilating. It is similar to Six Second Breathing
but the focus in on the exhale.
- Have the child start by
blowing out from his or her mouth with a long,
slow "whoosh" until completely out of breath.
- Then slowly inhale for a count of three (one-one
thousand, two-two thousand, three-three thousand).
This will help them regain control of their breathing
and emotions at which point they can resume the Six
Second Breathing if necessary
Conscious breathing techniques are a powerful tool to
counteract the physical and emotional effects of
stress on children. It is an essential life skill and
become their "secret weapon" for managing test-
taking stress, improving athletic performance, and
controlling anger, sadness, fear, and frustration. The
simplicity and effectiveness of the techniques
combined with their ability to be used anytime,
anywhere, make them a life skill and a habit that every
child (and adult) should learn.
Read the full article...
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A Handy Companion
Let the Perfect Breathing Workbook Be Your Guide
Our Perfect Breathing Workbook, the same one
Al uses for his seminars, contains complete
information for mastering your Perfect Breath. It's great
to have on hand as a reminder, and can serve as a
constant source of information for all things
breathing. Get your copy here.
Also visit our online store for everything
from comfortable apparel and messenger bags, to
ball caps,
clocks, notepads and more.
.
Shop now!
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Learn the Art of Perfect Breathing
Schedule your
Perfect Breathing
seminar or keynote, with Al Lee.
You and
your
company or organization can take advantage of
Perfect
Breathing's customized training and
presentations. Al
presents not only the
latest and most compelling scientific and
medical
information, but valuable, practical
techniques to
improve health, battle stress, and become a more
productive, creative person.
Upcoming Seminars:
Tuesday Nov. 6
March Wellness
3303 SW Bond Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97239-4501
5:30 - 7 p.m.
503.418.6272
For Perfect Breathing Seminar bookings email Al Lee
at:
al@perfectbreathing.com
More info
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The Perfect Breath Blog
Join and contribute to our growing community
In between Perfect Breath ezines, visit us at the The
Perfect Breath Blog . Get answers
to your questions, share your
experience and expertise with others, and stay
abreast of the latest science, research, and
technology.
Be part of the Perfect Breath community -- everyday.
Stop by and drop us a note at
blog.perfectbreath.com. We'd love
to hear from you!
Perfect Breath Blog
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Thanks for being part of Perfect Breath. Stay
tuned! If you have comments, questions or
suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
The Perfect Breath Staff
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