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The Breathwork Companion: Unlock the Healing Power of Breathing
This practical, accessible breathwork guide delivers a complete program of exercises, inspiring true stories, prompts, and more to give readers the skills they need to build and maintain a healing breath practice.
Imagine having a powerful wellness tool at your fingertips. A tool to keep you calm, increase energy, clarify your thinking, release muscle tightness—even give you a youthful glow. A tool that enhances and improves physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and well-being, always at the ready whenever you need it. It’s not some miracle app. It’s your breath. And all you need to do is learn how to harness its power—its innate wisdom—which is exactly what Margaret Townsend, who has been a practicing breathwork facilitator for 30 years, teaches readers in The Breathwork Companion.
We learn the best ways to wake the body up in the morning and tune it down at night. How to strengthen the mind-body connection to boost the immune system and decrease inflammation. How to help with specific emotions including anger, fear, anxiety, worry, sadness, grief, fatigue, and stress. How to increase self-compassion and find a calmer, more balanced, steady state. Even how to breathe better while wearing a face mask.
The breath is one of our greatest natural resources. Given that we inhale and exhale roughly 20,000 times a day, we have countless opportunities to make the most of it. Here’s how to start.
Imagine having a powerful wellness tool at your fingertips. A tool to keep you calm, increase energy, clarify your thinking, release muscle tightness—even give you a youthful glow. A tool that enhances and improves physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and well-being, always at the ready whenever you need it. It’s not some miracle app. It’s your breath. And all you need to do is learn how to harness its power—its innate wisdom—which is exactly what Margaret Townsend, who has been a practicing breathwork facilitator for 30 years, teaches readers in The Breathwork Companion.
We learn the best ways to wake the body up in the morning and tune it down at night. How to strengthen the mind-body connection to boost the immune system and decrease inflammation. How to help with specific emotions including anger, fear, anxiety, worry, sadness, grief, fatigue, and stress. How to increase self-compassion and find a calmer, more balanced, steady state. Even how to breathe better while wearing a face mask.
The breath is one of our greatest natural resources. Given that we inhale and exhale roughly 20,000 times a day, we have countless opportunities to make the most of it. Here’s how to start.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2023
30 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 18, 2023
Your breath is a powerful tool to nourish your body and mind. Simple breathing exercises can unlock the healing instincts of your nervous system, and relieve stress and anxiety. You'll sleep better, find more energy, and be able to stay calm in difficult situations. Conscious breathing can build up your immune system and help reduce inflammation in the body.
This book guides you through different breathing exercises and mindfulness meditations. It explains how the breath controls so much of how your body responds and functions in daily situations when you are sleeping, driving, working, laughing, or walking.
I really liked that there are inspirational stories of people who turned to breathwork to manage their anxiety and health issues. There are moms, athletes, invalids, and people with high-pressure jobs that learned to tap into the power of their breath. Their stories of healing are full of hope and joy!
There are whole sections describing exactly what goes on in your lungs when you breathe. The science in this book is very well researched! There is a big section all about the parasympathetic nervous system, and how our nerves and brain chemistry respond to our breathing patterns.
I picked up this book at a time when I was having some difficult health issues and that was causing me a lot of anxiety which in turn worsened my health issues. I was stuck in this bad pattern of stress. This book really helped to pull me out of that pattern and find some relaxation and healing!
I love the writing style of this author. Every page is full of compassion. The whole atmosphere of this book is one of peace and gentleness. The author encourages the reader to explore some difficult emotions and meet yourself with kindness; then take a deep breath and relax into those tough feelings, allowing yourself to nurture your soul and accept healing.
This book is exactly what I needed! It covers so many aspects of emotions, physical health, mental attitudes, and spiritual growth as well.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
This book guides you through different breathing exercises and mindfulness meditations. It explains how the breath controls so much of how your body responds and functions in daily situations when you are sleeping, driving, working, laughing, or walking.
I really liked that there are inspirational stories of people who turned to breathwork to manage their anxiety and health issues. There are moms, athletes, invalids, and people with high-pressure jobs that learned to tap into the power of their breath. Their stories of healing are full of hope and joy!
There are whole sections describing exactly what goes on in your lungs when you breathe. The science in this book is very well researched! There is a big section all about the parasympathetic nervous system, and how our nerves and brain chemistry respond to our breathing patterns.
I picked up this book at a time when I was having some difficult health issues and that was causing me a lot of anxiety which in turn worsened my health issues. I was stuck in this bad pattern of stress. This book really helped to pull me out of that pattern and find some relaxation and healing!
I love the writing style of this author. Every page is full of compassion. The whole atmosphere of this book is one of peace and gentleness. The author encourages the reader to explore some difficult emotions and meet yourself with kindness; then take a deep breath and relax into those tough feelings, allowing yourself to nurture your soul and accept healing.
This book is exactly what I needed! It covers so many aspects of emotions, physical health, mental attitudes, and spiritual growth as well.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
October 19, 2023
With this book, you will gain a complete guide to harnessing the healing and transformative power of breathing.
The remarkable power of breath has been recognised for centuries. Breathing, an innate and often overlooked process, possesses the incredible ability to reset, heal, and transform our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual states. From its profound impact on stress reduction to its role in enhancing mindfulness and emotional balance, the act of breathing carries within it the potential to revolutionise our overall health and quality of life.
In this review, we will delve into a book ‘The Breathwork Companion’ by Margaret Townsend, which delves deep into the therapeutic art of breathwork, exploring its potential to reset and heal our being.
Author’s background
Since 1993, Margaret Townsend has actively engaged as a breathwork facilitator, offering both individual and group sessions focused on breathwork. Alongside this role, she holds certifications in Hakomi mindful somatic psychotherapy and mindful self-compassion and possesses training in qigong and nonviolent communication. Her diverse background spans dance, yoga, fitness, and a consistent thirty-year meditation practice. Townsend is associated with the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance and earned her breathwork certification from Judith Kravitz, the creator of the Transformational Breath Foundation.
What is the book about?
In ‘The Breathwork Companion,’ Margaret Townsend, drawing on her 30 years of experience as a breathwork facilitator, provides readers with a comprehensive program of exercises, anecdotes, prompts, and insights to develop and sustain a transformative breath practice.
Townsend guides readers through a range of breathing exercises and mindfulness meditations that serve different purposes. The book covers techniques to wake the body up in the morning, calm it down at night, and establish a strong mind-body connection to bolster the immune system and reduce inflammation. Additionally, the author addresses specific emotions like anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness, offering practices to alleviate these feelings. The importance of self-compassion and emotional balance is emphasised throughout the book.
Townsend delves into the science behind breath and its effects on the body as well as provides real-life success stories from her clients who have turned to breathwork to manage anxiety and health challenges. These features highlight the healing potential of breathwork and inspire hope for readers facing their own difficulties.
Three key takeaways from ‘The Breathwork Companion’
1. Breathing patterns are a bridge between our conscious and unconscious states
The book delves into the intricate relationship between breath patterns and our holistic well-being, spanning the realms of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Townsend highlights how our breathing style is a reflection of our internal state, offering insights into our emotions, thoughts, and overall vitality. Breath patterns are revealed as a bridge between the tangible and intangible aspects of our existence, as they shift unconsciously with our emotions, nervous system responses, and psychological states. By becoming attuned to our breath’s rhythms, we gain a deeper understanding of our inner world, paving the way for self-awareness and self-regulation. This connection highlights the vital role of conscious breathing in maintaining harmony across the various dimensions of our being.
2. Why does provincial breathing occur? And how to repattern your breathing
Our need for safety and comfort leads us to tighten and contract our bodies, which often causes us to hold our breath unconsciously. Over time, this creates patterns of restricted breathing that affect our posture and emotions. Physical tensions, emotions like stress and fear, and even our thoughts can make our breath shallow and constricted. But the good news is, we can change these patterns. By recognising them and practising new ways of breathing, we can transform our breath and feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally. It is like teaching our bodies a new, healthier rhythm. This process, known as ‘repatterning,’ helps us let go of stress and old habits. By observing how others breathe, we can even learn about their emotions and experiences. Through simple awareness and practice, we can free ourselves from these patterns and breathe more naturally, bringing positive changes to our well-being.
3. ‘Breathing as an act of self-compassion’
Townsend states that breathing is an act of self-compassion. By consciously taking a breath, we embrace self-kindness and openness, offering ourselves love and acceptance. This compassionate approach resonates with the heart, bridging self-acceptance and compassion for others. The profound synergy of mindful breathing and self-compassion forms the foundation of self-care, a skill we can rely on throughout our lives. Open breathing fosters a receptive environment for self-compassion, while self-criticism tightens both our body and our breath.
Personal experiences, like childhood emotional challenges, can shape our need for self-compassion. By acknowledging our patterns and practising breathwork with self-compassion, we can release stress and support ourselves through challenges. Self-compassion is the act of being present with discomfort, using breath as a tool of care. This practice aligns with Dr. Kristin Neff’s research, cited in the book, which defines self-compassion with mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness. The combination of these elements with breathwork nurtures a compassionate response to ourselves and others, offering relief and support in times of pain and struggle. Breathing mindfully, especially in challenging moments, is an expression of self-compassion – a gift we can always give ourselves.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Townsend’s wealth of knowledge and insights, drawn from her extensive facilitator experience, shines through, providing readers with a valuable resource backed by expertise.
• The breathing practices shared in the book are easy to follow, making it simple for readers to incorporate these exercises into their daily routines.
• The book is enriched with heartwarming stories that resonate with readers, creating an engaging and relatable reading experience.
• The book has an approachable writing style.
Weaknesses:
• Readers seeking detailed explanations of the physiology of breath and its connections to various health conditions might find the book lacking in depth in these areas.
Best quotes from ‘The Breathwork Companion’
“What’s more, when the breath is open, we are more open to receiving self-compassion and knowing that we are taking it in as we breathe. By contrast, when we believe our own judgments and self-criticism, we are disconnected from our heart’s access to acceptance and love and our body and breath tighten.”
“Being kind and compassionate toward ourselves softens and opens our breath and body.”
“Giving your body and breath to gravity is a great awareness practice. We spend so much time “doing” in our lives that we can easily forget how to “not do.” Awareness practices can help us undo this habit so we can feel what it’s like to just be. Giving your body to gravity means letting go without trying to let go. Giving your breath to gravity means giving in to the downward out flow of the air and letting your muscles soften with it.”
Final takeaway
‘The Breathwork Companion’ by Margaret Townsend offers a transformative journey into conscious breathing, drawing on the author’s extensive facilitator experience. The book highlights how breathing patterns connect with our holistic well-being and emphasises self-compassion as a core aspect of breathwork. While the book excels in practical guidance and spiritual exploration, readers seeking a deeper dive into breath physiology and medical connections may find it less detailed.
Overall, it is an excellent read for individuals interested in exploring conscious breathing practices to improve their health and wellness.
The remarkable power of breath has been recognised for centuries. Breathing, an innate and often overlooked process, possesses the incredible ability to reset, heal, and transform our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual states. From its profound impact on stress reduction to its role in enhancing mindfulness and emotional balance, the act of breathing carries within it the potential to revolutionise our overall health and quality of life.
In this review, we will delve into a book ‘The Breathwork Companion’ by Margaret Townsend, which delves deep into the therapeutic art of breathwork, exploring its potential to reset and heal our being.
Author’s background
Since 1993, Margaret Townsend has actively engaged as a breathwork facilitator, offering both individual and group sessions focused on breathwork. Alongside this role, she holds certifications in Hakomi mindful somatic psychotherapy and mindful self-compassion and possesses training in qigong and nonviolent communication. Her diverse background spans dance, yoga, fitness, and a consistent thirty-year meditation practice. Townsend is associated with the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance and earned her breathwork certification from Judith Kravitz, the creator of the Transformational Breath Foundation.
What is the book about?
In ‘The Breathwork Companion,’ Margaret Townsend, drawing on her 30 years of experience as a breathwork facilitator, provides readers with a comprehensive program of exercises, anecdotes, prompts, and insights to develop and sustain a transformative breath practice.
Townsend guides readers through a range of breathing exercises and mindfulness meditations that serve different purposes. The book covers techniques to wake the body up in the morning, calm it down at night, and establish a strong mind-body connection to bolster the immune system and reduce inflammation. Additionally, the author addresses specific emotions like anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness, offering practices to alleviate these feelings. The importance of self-compassion and emotional balance is emphasised throughout the book.
Townsend delves into the science behind breath and its effects on the body as well as provides real-life success stories from her clients who have turned to breathwork to manage anxiety and health challenges. These features highlight the healing potential of breathwork and inspire hope for readers facing their own difficulties.
Three key takeaways from ‘The Breathwork Companion’
1. Breathing patterns are a bridge between our conscious and unconscious states
The book delves into the intricate relationship between breath patterns and our holistic well-being, spanning the realms of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Townsend highlights how our breathing style is a reflection of our internal state, offering insights into our emotions, thoughts, and overall vitality. Breath patterns are revealed as a bridge between the tangible and intangible aspects of our existence, as they shift unconsciously with our emotions, nervous system responses, and psychological states. By becoming attuned to our breath’s rhythms, we gain a deeper understanding of our inner world, paving the way for self-awareness and self-regulation. This connection highlights the vital role of conscious breathing in maintaining harmony across the various dimensions of our being.
2. Why does provincial breathing occur? And how to repattern your breathing
Our need for safety and comfort leads us to tighten and contract our bodies, which often causes us to hold our breath unconsciously. Over time, this creates patterns of restricted breathing that affect our posture and emotions. Physical tensions, emotions like stress and fear, and even our thoughts can make our breath shallow and constricted. But the good news is, we can change these patterns. By recognising them and practising new ways of breathing, we can transform our breath and feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally. It is like teaching our bodies a new, healthier rhythm. This process, known as ‘repatterning,’ helps us let go of stress and old habits. By observing how others breathe, we can even learn about their emotions and experiences. Through simple awareness and practice, we can free ourselves from these patterns and breathe more naturally, bringing positive changes to our well-being.
3. ‘Breathing as an act of self-compassion’
Townsend states that breathing is an act of self-compassion. By consciously taking a breath, we embrace self-kindness and openness, offering ourselves love and acceptance. This compassionate approach resonates with the heart, bridging self-acceptance and compassion for others. The profound synergy of mindful breathing and self-compassion forms the foundation of self-care, a skill we can rely on throughout our lives. Open breathing fosters a receptive environment for self-compassion, while self-criticism tightens both our body and our breath.
Personal experiences, like childhood emotional challenges, can shape our need for self-compassion. By acknowledging our patterns and practising breathwork with self-compassion, we can release stress and support ourselves through challenges. Self-compassion is the act of being present with discomfort, using breath as a tool of care. This practice aligns with Dr. Kristin Neff’s research, cited in the book, which defines self-compassion with mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness. The combination of these elements with breathwork nurtures a compassionate response to ourselves and others, offering relief and support in times of pain and struggle. Breathing mindfully, especially in challenging moments, is an expression of self-compassion – a gift we can always give ourselves.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Townsend’s wealth of knowledge and insights, drawn from her extensive facilitator experience, shines through, providing readers with a valuable resource backed by expertise.
• The breathing practices shared in the book are easy to follow, making it simple for readers to incorporate these exercises into their daily routines.
• The book is enriched with heartwarming stories that resonate with readers, creating an engaging and relatable reading experience.
• The book has an approachable writing style.
Weaknesses:
• Readers seeking detailed explanations of the physiology of breath and its connections to various health conditions might find the book lacking in depth in these areas.
Best quotes from ‘The Breathwork Companion’
“What’s more, when the breath is open, we are more open to receiving self-compassion and knowing that we are taking it in as we breathe. By contrast, when we believe our own judgments and self-criticism, we are disconnected from our heart’s access to acceptance and love and our body and breath tighten.”
“Being kind and compassionate toward ourselves softens and opens our breath and body.”
“Giving your body and breath to gravity is a great awareness practice. We spend so much time “doing” in our lives that we can easily forget how to “not do.” Awareness practices can help us undo this habit so we can feel what it’s like to just be. Giving your body to gravity means letting go without trying to let go. Giving your breath to gravity means giving in to the downward out flow of the air and letting your muscles soften with it.”
Final takeaway
‘The Breathwork Companion’ by Margaret Townsend offers a transformative journey into conscious breathing, drawing on the author’s extensive facilitator experience. The book highlights how breathing patterns connect with our holistic well-being and emphasises self-compassion as a core aspect of breathwork. While the book excels in practical guidance and spiritual exploration, readers seeking a deeper dive into breath physiology and medical connections may find it less detailed.
Overall, it is an excellent read for individuals interested in exploring conscious breathing practices to improve their health and wellness.
March 17, 2023
Really great book with practical guides to help you bring mindful breathing into an everyday practice.
For someone who practices yoga I love that I can now do these practices on my own and find new ways to relieve physical and mental stress on my body. The different practices and mini-practices offer a variety of ways to find the optimal breathing technique, as some of them can feel a little uncomfortable, especially if you're not used to mindful techniques and breathing restrictions. All of them offer the same results though; you will be relaxed, able to breathe deeper and you will just feel better in your body.
For someone who practices yoga I love that I can now do these practices on my own and find new ways to relieve physical and mental stress on my body. The different practices and mini-practices offer a variety of ways to find the optimal breathing technique, as some of them can feel a little uncomfortable, especially if you're not used to mindful techniques and breathing restrictions. All of them offer the same results though; you will be relaxed, able to breathe deeper and you will just feel better in your body.
April 7, 2023
This is a beautiful book that offers so many helpful tips. As someone who was already familiar with the perks of breathwork, I felt that this book offered a deeper understanding through diagrams and connection to our anatomy. I personally love how this book is formatted into chapters, and offers such an approachable method for diving into the art of breathing. I received a free copy from Workman Publishing in exchange for a free and unbiased review.
June 9, 2024
This is a beautiful piece of work, and offered such great advice and really went more in depth into how different breathing techniques can calm and empower the body and mind. I especially love the connection to breathing between ourselves and nature! 🌿🌲
April 6, 2023
Practical tips and sessions to practice. I listened to this before bed and found it helpful to be tuned into my breath as I was going to sleep.
April 6, 2024
Straightforward practical exercises. Has some useful exercises to do with kids.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews