Taking a Deep Breath

Breath meditation and breathwork manipulate physiological, neuroscientific, and phenomenological factors to induce different states of mind and bodily experiences. The chapter argues that meditation can influence a range of common factors shared by all psychotherapeutic approaches. A foundational meditation technique using the breath as the object of attention is presented as a way to cultivate a general therapeutic stance. A guided meditation is included to help readers become familiar with the breath as a foundation for other techniques and to create a “home in the breath” that enables easier access to this mindset.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This chapter introduces the practical aspects of breath meditation and breathwork in the context of the framework bringing in physiological, neuroscientific and phenomenological explanations. This is extended to show how manipulation of the breath can cause changes in these factors to help engender different states of mind and bodily experiences. It is shown how a range of common factors for all psychotherapeutic approaches can all be influenced by meditation and that a foundational meditation technique using the breath as the object of attention can be used to bring about a general therapeutic stance. There is a guided meditation to describe this method, and readers are encouraged to become familiar with the breath as a foundation for all the other meditation techniques in the book and also to create a home in the breath that allows access to this mindset more readily.