Breathwork in Martha’s Vineyard

Pranayama is a Sanskrit word to describe yoga breathing exercises that have been claimed to release stress, improve mental clarity and physical health. More recently the term ‘breathwork’ is being used in the western world to describe these breathing exercises or pranayama - which is breathing exercises in a clear and simple manner through its various courses and retreats.

One study by Phillipot and colleagues (Phillipot, P., G. Chapelle, and S. Blairy, Respiratory feedback in the generation of emotion. Cognition & Emotion, 2002. 16(5): p. 605-627.) showed that there is a specific breathing pattern associated when different emotions arise – anger, sadness, happiness, anxiety, and so on. The mimicry of these breathing patterns in turn can also create the corresponding emotional states within us. Pranayama works on this very principle. Given how difficult it is to control our emotions, the pranayama breathing technique is practiced to transform overpowering negative emotions. This may be a powerful tool for enhancing wellbeing for some people. 

One group that advances breathwork is the Art of Living, which reports that participants in the SKY group experience significant improvements in the scales of Depression, Anxiety, Optimism, Stress, and the Experience of Altered States of Consciousness (which is associated with a daydreaming state of deep relaxation and stress release.) SKY has been reported to be beneficial for diabetics with improved metabolic parameters, among smokers with cancer, smoking cessation, depression, anxiety and addiction among many other medical problems. 

This summer, we are teaching SKY in Martha’s Vineyard as taught by the Art of Living. This session being held during the last week of June, will focus on teaching SKY for mental health professionals, taught by John Osborne and Dr. Priya Narayanan. Join us!!!