As we highlighted in the first post in this series, looking at the triggers for breathing difficulties there is most likely to be a combination of postural, environmental and emotional factors. Quite simply because the body is not an isolated unit. It's not limited to the monological flatland of meaningless 'its' often represented in medical science. All aspects have an influence and effect on one another.

The mind can effect physiology, which can in turn effect how we relate to our environment, which in turn will effect how we inter-relate to our culture. But equally the environment could effect the physiology, which could effect how we relate to our culture, which could effect our minds, and so on. Taken from any perspective, it can be argued how one has the effect on the others. The best part is they are all right. There never had to be a single source of the triggers, again how could there be, we are not isolated 'its'.

As we stated in the initial post on this series, the most common presentation for breathing difficulties with an emotional trigger is anxiety. This actually stems the whole spectrum of fear, phobia, worry, anxiety. It is often accompanied by poor posture as well, potentially a bit of a chicken and egg thing going on here but that is ok. In using kinesiology as a modality to manage breathing difficulties, we can assess if there would be benefit from using an intervention such as Bowen technique (or indeed any other technique that the practitioner is sufficiently educated in). 

Regardless of where we start, kinesiology has for the most part, access to a wide range of interventions. Aside from an impressive range of 'Thought Activated' procedures, where the client is given words or phrases to think or say that hold a certain level of stress for the body, this coupled with the traditional holding of acupoints has a remarkable effect on emotional stress. Kinesiology also has a unique way of navigating though the whole spectrum of 'Subtle Energy Tools' such as Flower Essences, Vibrational Remedies (such as Homeopathics), Colour and Sound protocols and techniques which have all been shown to have notable effects on mood and emotion. We only have to be asked what colour would you relate to happy or sad, what song would you choose to make you smile or cry, to know that these interventions can have a dramatic effect on our emotions.

But how do we navigate what we need? This is where a skilled and experienced kinesiologist can be of most use. By using the muscle testing inherent to the system, you can gauge the body's response to almost any stimuli at any given time. This can be used to highlight areas of stress, things that need to be worked with, and to identify what tool in what manner would best suit a person to help with that aspect.

There is no doubt that the skill and experience of the practitioner have a great deal to do with their ability to be effective at this, but that's the same for all health professionals. Any one can be a bad doctor, nurse, therapist, just as much as good ones. Always ensure that you feel comfortable with how your kinesiologist presents themselves, do they appear to be walking their talk, did they come from a recommendation? Do you trust that? Do they listen to you and answer your questions confidently and clearly?

Where the shallow, rapid breathing of someone with anxiety has moved beyond a temporary response to a stressful situation, which we can all have, and into an adapted habit; kinesiology can be used to help construct ways of gently replacing the habit with something more productive and useful. Allowing the body and mind to take a different perspective on previously stressful situations. I have used it approach successfully with everything from extreme phobias for flying and spiders right down to self awareness when eating and mental/emotional preparation for exams, interviews and weddings. And simply in my own experience I know it has helped me to develop my mental and emotional capacities to cope with and achieve many things at one point I would not have thought possible.

How does that related to breathing difficulties? When the mind is calm and centred, the breathing will be more relaxed as we are far more likely to be in a para-sympathetic rather than sympathetic nervous state, making many parts of our system function at more optimum levels.

In the follow ups to this post we shall look a a few specific breathing techniques and other modalities which have a beneficial effect on breathing difficulties.

In the meantime, please share your thoughts comments and experiences on using kinesiology to help with emotional issues, whether they are related to breathing difficulties or not. And if you have family, friends or colleagues who you can see that mental/emotional stress is effecting their physiology, why not suggest they seek out a kinesiologist and find out how they can improve their lives with a little help from their body.

Be well